Rabbi Mordechai Rubin, who has directed the Colonie Chabad Chai Jewish Center near Albany, N.Y., alongside his wife, Chana, since 2018, was excited when he was asked to help arrange a daily morning minyan at the 131st National Convention of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America.
“Initially, it looked like they just wanted a pretty basic service, and asked me to bring Siddurim and a Torah,” Rubin said of the early planning conversations. “Instead, it was a much more inspiring experience. About 20 people came every morning to wrap tefillin—many for the first time in decades—pray, and hear the shofar and a Torah thought. It was incredibly inspiring and connecting.”
The morning minyan became the centerpiece of the convention, held last week at the Marriott in Colonie, just north of the state capital. It was the first time in the organization’s history that the convention came to the Albany area. The minyan happened because of Fred Altman, commander of Albany’s Jewish War Veterans Post 105, a veteran and lawyer who has known Rubin for years.
Roughly 150 members came from Florida to California to Texas. Jewish War Veterans, founded in 1896 by a group of Jewish Civil War veterans responding to antisemitism and slander that Jews hadn’t served their country in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, is the oldest active national veterans’ organization in the United States.
Albany Post 105 counts 35 members, who share resources, march in parades and visit lonely veterans during the holiday season.
“Many people thought Jews were disloyal,” Altman told the gathered veterans in his convention remarks. “Let this convention show there is no shortage of loyalty. It all comes down to one theme: Jews are part of this country, and will always stand up proudly to defend it.”
'You Are Still Enlisted'
“My takeaway is how beautiful the Jewish people are,” Rubin said. “The story of the neshamah shining through, no matter the level of observance, the joy in service, and the pride of Jewish identity in the face of antisemitism.
“When you have a room full of Jewish warriors, you blow the shofar,” the rabbi continued. “You let them hear that sound they heard at Sinai. You let them know: You are still enlisted, this time as a member of the Jewish people fulfilling G‑d’s mission for us.”
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy stopped by the minyan as well, shaking hands and thanking the veterans for choosing the area for their convention.
Altman, who enlisted during the Vietnam draft in 1969 and went on to serve 21 years in the Army and the New York National Guard, followed the path of his father, who served in the Pacific during World War II. Altman later became a JAG officer at the National Guard headquarters in Albany, where he worked until his retirement.
“We’re a country worth fighting for, and Jewish veterans, though relatively small in number, are very proud of our service,” Altman said. “Our mission remains pertinent, and unfortunately, it’s a timely one again.”
The convention wrapped up days before the start of the High Holiday season, a timing Altman called especially meaningful.
“To be surrounded by Jews, ahead of the High Holidays,” he said, “that was particularly special.”
Start a Discussion