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This Month, We Celebrate Jewish American Veterans and Heroes
(Illustrative) The graves of fallen US servicemen at Arlington National Cemetery. Photo: Reuters/Michael A. McCoy.
American history is full of Jewish heroes — famous names like Albert Einstein, Sandy Koufax, and Stan Lee. But during Jewish American History Month, and on Memorial Day, I am most inspired by the many American Jews who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication and courage while serving in our country’s military.
People who exemplify patriotism. People, in other words, who remind me of my dad.
Bernard Deutch fought in the Battle of the Bulge, earning a Purple Heart while helping beat back a massive Nazi counterattack in the Ardennes Forest.
Like many veterans of World War II, he rarely talked about the details of his service. The one thing he did share, and made sure his children knew, was that we were all privileged to live in the United States — the country he almost died defending. A country where Jews were welcome.
And despite alarming spikes in antisemitism, the US remains the greatest safe haven the Jewish Diaspora has ever known.
And that’s why I believe so many American Jews are not only profoundly and gratefully patriotic, but are also driven to better our communities and this country for all its people.
Andrea Goldstein is one of those Jews. Her family came to America fleeing the Holocaust, and, according to Andrea, always praised the opportunity and security this country has afforded them. This gratitude led her to join the US Navy, where as Acting Director for Force Resiliency, she leads critical efforts in combating sexual assault and harassment, as well as suicide prevention and response.
“A big component of what drew me to military service is definitely the spirit of tikkun olam,” she said. “For me, the idea of putting on the cloth of the nation that welcomed my family as refugees was the best way to do that.”
Andrea also served on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs as the lead staffer for the Women Veterans Task Force, where she helped write more than 100 pieces of legislation that improve access to healthcare and benefits for female veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, sexual trauma survivors, and people living with PTSD.
Or take the example of Dave Warnock. His great-grandfather emigrated from Russia and enlisted in the US Army at age 16. Both of Warnock’s grandfathers served in World War II, and his father joined the Coast Guard.
Dave joined the Army in the wake of 9/11, and served two tours in Iraq. Throughout his career, he was one of the only Jews in his military companies.
“For a lot of people,” he said, “I was the only Jew they ever met.”
After his time in the military, Warnock’s commitment to service led to a career in law enforcement, where he found that many of the guiding principles in the Torah and Talmud — including fairness and accountability — overlap with what it meant to be a police officer.
As in the military, Warnock is often one of the few Jewish police officers in his department, a rewarding experience because of the awareness he can raise, and the connections he can make with fellow officers who are curious to learn more.
I also want to honor the many American Jews who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country — two of whom I had the honor of representing in the Florida Senate.
Pfc. Daniel J. Agami, from Coconut Creek, Florida, decided to enlist in the military after having been deeply affected by the September 11 attacks. He earned a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and an Army Commendation Medal, but was tragically killed in action in Baghdad in June 2007 at 25 years old. His mother Beth said of him, “He always wanted to be of service.”
Major Stuart A. Wolfer, a native of Coral Springs, Florida, was dedicated to his Jewish faith. A beloved father of three children, while deployed in Iraq, he volunteered with a newly formed local Boy Scout organization before being killed in action in Baghdad in April 2008 at the age of 36.
As a Member of Congress, I also continued the efforts of my predecessor, Representative Robert Wexler (D-FL), and worked with then-Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) to properly recognize the service and sacrifice of Pfc. Leonard M. Kravitz, who died heroically while protecting his fellow soldiers during the Korean War, and other Jewish soldiers who were not properly honored for their service due to prejudice.
These Jewish American heroes’ service, hard work, and compassion are emblematic of a tradition that has enriched the fabric of American society for generations. Alongside my dad, their example, and my Jewish values, inspire me to fight for America’s values, and I hope they inspire you too.
Please join me in honoring them and all the other Jews who dedicate their lives to the betterment of our Nation.
Ted Deutch is CEO of American Jewish Committee (AJC) and a former Congressman from Florida.
The post This Month, We Celebrate Jewish American Veterans and Heroes first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Tourists Stranded in Israel as Sirens Sound, Missiles Fly, Planes Grounded
FILE PHOTO: A worker at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel sits at the arrivals terminal as all flights from and to the airport are indicated cancel, following an Israeli attack on Iran. June 13, 2025 Photo: REUTERS/Tomer Appelbaum
Woken by air raid sirens, hurrying to bomb shelters, scouring travel sites for escape routes — thousands of tourists in Israel have found their holiday plans upended by the country’s conflict with Iran.
Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran in the early hours of Friday, shutting down the national airspace and telling people to remain where they were as the arch Middle East foes traded deadly blows.
The violence has left around 40,000 tourists blocked in Israel, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Airlines are cancelling flights until further notice, leaving travelers to decide whether to wait it out or seek costly detours through neighboring countries.
Justin Joyner, from California, is on holiday in Jerusalem with his father John, who lives in Nevada, and his son. They had expected some possible disruption, with Israel locked in a months-long conflict against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
But, like most locals, they did not foresee a whole new war.
“We didn’t expect Israel to attack Iran. That is a completely different level of escalation,” Joyner said from his hotel in East Jerusalem, which, for the past two nights, has seen Iranian ballistic missiles flash overhead like a rain of meteorites.
“It’s unsettling to feel the shockwaves of intercepted missiles above you, and to take your family down to a bomb shelter. That’s just something we don’t think about in America,” he said.
Dr. Greer Glazer, who lives in Cleveland and was in Jerusalem for a nursing training program, faces a race down 10 flights of stairs in her hotel to reach the shelter when sirens sound — as they have done regularly since Friday night.
“I feel safe,” she said, “but waking from a dead sleep and running to the safe room, that’s been the hardest. My family is scared to death … They think it’s 24/7 destruction, but it’s not like that.”
THE JORDAN ROUTE
Glazer had been due to return home on June 29, but is looking to bring forward her departure. The easiest exit route is via land crossings into neighboring Jordan and then a flight out of Amman airport which has been operating in daylight hours.
Israeli media reported that the transgender US influencer Caitlyn Jenner, who only flew into Israel on Thursday for Tel Aviv’s since-canceled Gay Pride Parade, had left through Jordan.
Hours earlier, she had been photographed drinking a glass of red wine in a bomb shelter. “What an incredible way it has been to celebrate Shabbat,” she wrote on X.
Not everyone is rushing to leave.
Karen Tuhrim is visiting from London to see her daughter, who lives in Tel Aviv. “Within two days of being here, Israel attacked Iran. So now I’m stuck,” she said.
Unlike Jerusalem, Tel Aviv has taken direct hits from the Iranian missiles and Tuhrim has had to dip in and out of her hotel’s shelter. But she said she felt safe and was happy to be near her daughter.
“For me, personally, at the moment, I feel better being here than in London, watching it all on the news, knowing my daughter is here. So, for now, we’re good.”
Israel’s Ministry of Tourism has set up a round-the-clock virtual help desk in English and Hebrew for stranded travelers.
But for anyone stuck here, all the museums are closed until further notice, entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem is barred to non-residents and many shops remain shuttered.
“The streets and shops are empty,” said Jerusalem resident Anwar Abu Lafi, who saw no quick end to the gloom.
“People are yearning for a break, to find something good in this existing darkness. We are deluding ourselves into thinking that the future will be better,” he said.
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4 Killed by Missile in Arab Town of Tamra, Including a Mother and Her Two Daughters
Illustrative: A Magen David Adom ambulance. Photo: David King via Wikimedia Commons.
i24 News – In the early hours of Sunday morning, the Arab town of Tamra in northern Israel was struck by an Iranian missile, tragically claiming the lives of four women from the same family, including a mother and her two daughters, aged 13 and 20.
The missile caused severe damage, nearly collapsing the three- to four-story building where they lived.
Emergency services responded quickly, evacuating 14 injured individuals and providing care for eight others suffering from shock at Rambam Hospital in Haifa.
Despite the devastation, the community and first responders showed remarkable resilience and solidarity, working tirelessly to assist those affected.
Eli Bin, director general of Magen David Adom, described the scene as one of severe destruction but praised the swift and professional response of rescue teams. Paramedic Adnan Abu Rumi, one of the first on site, emphasized the dedication of emergency personnel in managing the crisis.
Residents like Hamudi, who was injured but survived, shared heartfelt accounts of the sudden impact, underscoring the strength of families and neighbors coming together in difficult times.
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Trump Sees Peace Between Iran and Israel Soon, Eyes Putin Role
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Photo: Reuters/Maxim Shemetov
Despite evidence that the conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating, US President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Sunday that peace would come soon and cited the possibility that Russia’s Vladimir Putin could help.
In a social media post, Trump said there were many unspecified meetings about the issue happening and encouraged the two countries to make a deal. And in an interview with ABC News, he said he was open to Putin, whose forces invaded Ukraine and who has resisted Trump’s attempts to broker a ceasefire with Kyiv, serving as a mediator.
Israel and Iran launched fresh attacks on each other overnight into Sunday, killing scores.
“Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social site. “We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place.”
Trump did not offer any details about the meetings or evidence of progress toward peace. His assertion contradicted comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on Saturday that Israel’s campaign against Iran would intensify.
A White House spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how Trump and the White House were working to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East.
Trump told ABC News that Iran wanted to make a deal and indicated something like the Israel strikes would accelerate that. “Something like this had to happen because I think even from both sides, but something like this had to happen. They want to talk, and they will be talking,” Trump said, according to ABC reporter Rachel Scott. “May have forced a deal to go quicker, actually.”
The United States has engaged in talks with Iran about its nuclear program and Trump has told reporters previously that the talks were going well. But another round of discussions scheduled for Sunday in Oman was canceled after the Israeli and Iranian strikes.
Trump said he and Putin had discussed the situation in the Middle East on Saturday in a call that focused more on that conflict than the Russian war in Ukraine.
“He is ready. He called me about it,” Trump said about Putin serving as a mediator, according to Scott. “We had a long talk about it. We talked about this more than his situation. This is something I believe is going to get resolved.”
Trump, who portrays himself as a peacemaker and has drawn criticism from his political base for not being able to prevent the Israel-Iran conflict, cited other disputes that he took responsibility for solving, including between India and Pakistan, and lamented not receiving more praise for doing so.
“I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!” he wrote on Truth Social.
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