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

JINSA Offers Decision-Makers Vital Information on Israel

Shalom Lamm’s expertise in acquiring, renovating, and developing residential real estate properties spans five states and includes some 9,500 individual rental units. His support of vital Jewish organizations is also noteworthy. Shalom Lamm was instrumental in the establishment of a Hatzolah volunteer emergency medical squad on New York City’s West Side, and he is a longtime supporter of Camp Morasha, Yeshiva College, and the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA).

JINSA works with the goal of providing education and background information on the national security interests of the United States in the Mideast, based on the country’s strong generations-long military and civilian partnership with the State of Israel. Believing that a strong military and defense position is the best guarantor of continued freedom and democracy, JINSA liaises with top decision-makers among elected leaders, military personnel, and leaders of civil society groups to ensure that they have an accurate picture of unfolding events. 

Among its recently developed outreach activities, JINSA offers its U. S. Military Leaders Program. This track focuses on enabling current members of the nation’s armed forces leadership education on the specific security issues affecting Israel, and on the benefits to both nations of a strong security partnership.

At the core of this program is an eight-day-long visit to Israel for participants drawn from the elite officer track at American military colleges. This allows them to experience first-hand the unique challenges of defending a small country bordering multiple relatively unstable and sometimes hostile neighbors.

JINSA’s HSP Strengthens American-Israeli Counterterrorism Efforts

Shalom Lamm, a top real estate professional in the New York City area, is heavily involved in his community. The founder of the Hatzolah medical rescue squad on the West Side of Manhattan, Shalom Lamm has served on the board of organizations such as JINSA (Jewish Institute for National Security of America).

In its efforts to educate national security decision makers about strategic and defense interests, JINSA maintains several programs that strengthen American-Israeli security cooperation. These programs include the Homeland Security Program (HSP), an initiative that was launched shortly after 9/11 with the intention of promoting best practices between the law enforcement community in the United States and counterterrorism practitioners in Israel.

Since HSP was created, more than 200 senior law enforcement executives from the US have traveled to Israel to observe techniques and methods that local counterterrorism agents use in the area. These law enforcement professionals come from all types of county, state, and federal agencies, including the state police, the DEA, and the FBI.

JINSA - Enhancing Israel-US Cooperation

Experienced business executive Shalom Lamm has helped acquire, develop, build, and finance thousands of apartment units and homes. Shalom Lamm has also served on the boards of a number of organizations, including the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA).

In 2013, JINSA created the Gemunder Center for Defense. Its mandate is to do intensive and innovative research on issues revolving around defense and foreign policy, especially those critical to the Middle East, particularly Israel. Aside from the regular personnel of JINSA, the organization seeks the help of interns to perform tasks related to the research. To qualify to join the internship program, the candidate:

*Must have taken at least one year of undergraduate education;
*Possesses a strong understandings of developments in security issues in the Middle East, using open-source or other related materials;
*Demonstrates excellence in research, as well as writing and editing skills;
*Preferably is able to communicate in relevant foreign languages, especially Hebrew, Arabic, or Farsi.

Interns at JINSA’s Gemunder Center for Defense perform interdisciplinary tasks in collaboration with regular staff. Their work advances JINSA’s advocacy for robust US defense and foreign policy.