AMERICAN VETERANS OF ISRAEL

Congressman John P. Sarbanes of Maryland has entered into the U.S Congressional Record recognition of the famed Holocaust Rescue Ship, the Exodus 1947. (see copy below). The ship, out of Baltimore, was American funded and crewed.  Its historic voyage in running the British naval blockade of Palestine made it a foundation story of the modern State of Israel.  Ruth Gruber called the Exodus 1947, the "Ship that Launched a Nation". Nine other largely US manned ships sailed from the U.S.

The S.S. Exodus was an American Aliyah Bet ship crewed by American volunteers together with Haganah operatives from pre-state Israel. Her mission was to rescue Holocaust survivors trapped in Europe after the murder of 6 million Jews, bringing them to British Mandatory Palestine. Despite the Balfour Declaration of 1917, the British prevented Jewish immigration to Palestine through a naval blockade. 

By Daniel Fliegler

Ruth Gruber, a trailblazing journalist, author and humanitarian passed away on November 17, 2016. She was 105 years old.

Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn, a new book by Daniel Gordis, describes the history of modern Israel through the eyes of thinkers, leaders, immigrant groups, and soldiers.

The 51st annual Mickey Marcus ceremony will take place on May 7, 2017 at the Jewish Chapel of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL PROGRAM COMMEMORATING COLONEL DAVID ‘MICKEY’ MARCUS AMONG THE 41 U.S. AND CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN ISRAEL’S WAR OF INDEPENDENCE (1947-1949).

10:00-10:50 - Coffee hour in the Chapel Social Hall.

We remember Roger Nathan "Gino" Narboni, a pilot who served three nations, including Israel in 1948, and died on July 16th, 2016. He was born in Constantine, Algeria, the son of a prominent physician. As a teenager with a thirst for action, he enlisted in the Free French Air Force and a few years later became a MACHAL. He received word of the newly created state of Israel's need for pilots and voluntered because he "felt strongly about our Jewish heritage." After emigrating to the United States, he served as a surgeon in the U.S. Air Force and retired with the rank of Colonel.

Ambassador of the United States to Israel Daniel Shapiro continues to recognize the contributions of the Machal in his Fourth of July reception. In his speech in front of 2,400 people at his residence, he remembers pilot Lou Lenart, Z"L, as "the man who saved Tel Aviv."

Below is the full text of the speech.

June 30, 2016 - Remarks of Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro at the Embassy’s Fourth of July Reception

A TRIBUTE TO OUR FOUNDERS 

Good evening everyone, and welcome! 

On May 10th, at the Machal Memorial in the Judean Hills, as part of a somber and nostalgic Yom Hazikaron service, U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro gave a great speech. The event included talks from Smoky Simon (South Africa), Chairman, World Machal, Zipporah Porath (United States), and Rabbi Judith Edelman-Green, who shared an emotional and inspirational sermon. Ambassador Shapiro, who earlier in the day also attended a service at Har Hatayasim (Air Force Memorial), visited the Machal memorial, addressed the crowd, and laid a wreath. We are honored to share his moving thoughts on the day.

An article in the The Jewish Link of New Jersey does not just cover the 50th Annual Mickey Marcus Memorial, it also provides a short biography of Mickey Marcus and offers glimpses into his heart and mind. In this excerpt, for example, the author, Leonard Grunstein, goes beyond mere fact-reporting. He looks at Marcus's public service bent, his first-hand experience with the Holocaust, and his Jewish concept of doing the right thing.