Published: The Origin of D-Day’s Name

I published “The Origin of D-Day’s Name” on @Medium https://ift.tt/3hvMzEq

Published: The Operation Benjamin Started with Soldier Born in Zhytomyr, Ukraine

I published “The Operation Benjamin Started with Soldier Born in Zhytomyr, Ukraine” on @Medium https://ift.tt/2DYZD6T

Published: The Significance of the Star of David

I published “The Significance of the Star of David” on @Medium https://ift.tt/3knxSFt

Published: An Look at Operation Benjamin’s Process

I published “An Look at Operation Benjamin’s Process” on @Medium https://ift.tt/39xtT4l

What Is the Welcome Home Project?

Entrepreneur and investor Shalom Lamm has enjoyed a successful real estate development career that includes the acquisition, development, and financing of over 9,500 apartment units and thousands of homes. A military history and warfare ethics expert, Shalom Lamm has also served as a scholar-in-residence for the National US Armed Forces Jewish Chaplains Council.

Since 1917, the Jewish Chaplains Council has provided spiritual and social support for Jews serving in the United States Armed Forces. The council operates within the Jewish Community Center (JCC) Association of North America, a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1854 to strengthen Jewish life and serve the Jewish community. In addition to fulfilling the spiritual needs of Jewish soldiers, the Jewish Chaplains Council organizes an array of other support programs such as the Welcome Home initiative.

Project Welcome Home helps Jewish veterans integrate into their communities following their military service. The program, which positions the JCC organization as an entry point for returning veterans, primarily serves soldiers who have fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. In addition to offering membership incentives and partnerships with veteran service organizations, Project Welcome Home offers community service and leadership opportunities to returning soldiers that better connect them with their Jewish communities.

Published: A Mission of Ensuring Jewish American WWII Soldiers’ Proper Burial

I published “A Mission of Ensuring Jewish American WWII Soldiers’ Proper Burial” on @Medium https://ift.tt/30WA5Ar

Burying WWII Soldiers in Manila under the Star of David

Shalom Lamm is a New York real estate executive who focuses on high profile residential rehabilitation projects. Active with the board of the Jewish Institute of National Security Affairs, Shalom Lamm serves as an Operation Benjamin founding member. In February 2020, the nonprofit realized a long held goal of holding a burial ceremony for World War II Jewish American soldiers under the Star of David.

As reported by Fox News, the re-naming ceremony was coordinated by the American Battle Monuments Commission and Operation Benjamin. Honoring five fallen soldiers, the historic ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial involved the participation of representatives of four of those men. In addition, the Israeli and U.S. ambassadors to the Philippines gave their blessings as part of a ceremony that included a recitation of the Mourner’s Kaddish at each grave site.

There were various reasons why Jewish participants in World War II might be buried under Christian crosses, from clerical error to personal omission. The latter was designed to minimize chances that a soldier would be persecuted, should he be captured in battle. In a number of cases Jewish service members were forced to deface the “H,” which stood for Hebrew, on their dog tags, so as not to be targeted by Nazis after their capture.

That a fundamental mistake was finally rectified, nearly eight decades after these men sacrificed their lives for their country, is a major accomplishment for Operation Benjamin and the families of the fallen.

Published: Containing a Familiar Enemy on the Front and within the Ranks

I published “Containing a Familiar Enemy on the Front and within the Ranks” on @Medium https://ift.tt/3gSu5yc

Published: Operation Benjamin — Honoring Jewish-American Fallen Soldiers

I published “Operation Benjamin — Honoring Jewish-American Fallen Soldiers” on @Medium https://ift.tt/2Zvj4ga

Published: ABMC’s WWII Commemorative Program

I published “ABMC’s WWII Commemorative Program” on @Medium https://ift.tt/2LEsJZp

Published: Star of David Placed on Graves of Five Jewish Soldiers in Manila

I published “Star of David Placed on Graves of Five Jewish Soldiers in Manila” on @Medium https://ift.tt/2Wyc3YN

Published: Five American Jewish Soldiers Buried Under Star of David in Manila

I published “Five American Jewish Soldiers Buried Under Star of David in Manila” on @Medium https://ift.tt/3f4m9ZP

What Is Operation Benjamin?

After graduating from Yeshiva Universit, Shalom Lamm spent several years working in the real estate industry. Over the years, he oversaw the acquisition, restoration, and development of almost 10,000 apartments. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Shalom Lamm is one of the leaders of Operation Benjamin, a project that aims to put Star of David on graves of Jewish American soldiers who died during World War II.

The seed of Operation Benjamin was planted in 2014 when Rabbi JJ Schacter visited the cemetery where the U.S. soldiers died during D-Day was buried. He concluded that there were too few graves marked with Star of David. Several weeks later, Shacter talked to Mr. Lamm, who calculated that there should be around 270 Jewish soldiers at the cemetery. However, only 149 graves were properly marked.

The two started researching all buried soldiers who could have possibly been Jewish. The first grave to receive a gravestone with Star of David was that of Private First Class Benjamin Barney Garadetsky from the 66th Regiment of the 2nd Armored Division.

The project was initially named Normandy Heritage Project, as it was focused on the grave in Normandy. However, the initiative widened in scope over time to encompass various other American Military cemeteries around the world. Finally, in 2016, the project was renamed Operation Benjamin after Benjamin Garadetsky.

Published: Manila American Cemetery Replaces Markers for Jewish-American Soldiers

I published “Manila American Cemetery Replaces Markers for Jewish-American Soldiers” on @Medium https://ift.tt/3emYFik

Operation Benjamin Gives Proper Burial Markers to WWII Soldiers

A New York real estate executive with holdings across several states, Shalom Lamm rehabilitates and repositions homes with significant upside potential. A strong community advocate, Shalom Lamm founded Operation Benjamin, a nonprofit that helps Jewish World War II soldiers buried under Christian crosses receive Star of David headstones.

The impetus of this mission was a visit by Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter to the Normandy American Cemetery on the 70th anniversary of D-Day in 2014. Moved by seeing graves of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for freedom, the rabbi was surprised to see that only a few graves had Star of David headstones.

This led Mr. Lamm to research the matter and discover that, while 2.7 percent of the soldiers who fought for America in World War II were Jewish, only 1.5 percent of the graves in Normandy were marked with a Star of David. A database-enabled search discovered that many fallen Jewish soldiers were buried under the wrong headstone.

Operation Benjamin has evolved into an expanded global mission. Through its efforts, 11 soldiers have had marker changes approved by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Published: WWII Jewish-American Soldiers Finally Buried under Star of David

I published “WWII Jewish-American Soldiers Finally Buried under Star of David” on @Medium https://ift.tt/2xiCLvE

Published: Artificial Intelligence and Warfare Ethics

I published “Artificial Intelligence and Warfare Ethics” on @Medium https://ift.tt/2JpRyr0