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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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Israel to Send Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Ceasefire Talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem, Sept. 2, 2024. Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/Pool via REUTERS
Israel has decided to send a delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, an Israeli official said, reviving hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations to end the almost 21-month war.
Palestinian group Hamas said on Friday it had responded to a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal in a “positive spirit,” a few days after US President Donald Trump said Israel had agreed “to the necessary conditions to finalize” a 60-day truce.
The Israeli negotiation delegation will fly to Qatar on Sunday, the Israeli official, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters.
But in a sign of the potential challenges still facing the two sides, a Palestinian official from a militant group allied with Hamas said concerns remained over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing in southern Israel to Egypt and clarity over a timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has yet to comment on Trump’s announcement, and in their public statements Hamas and Israel remain far apart.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the terrorist group, which is thought to be holding 20 living hostages, has so far refused to discuss.
Israeli media said on Friday that Israel had received and was reviewing Hamas’ response to the ceasefire proposal.
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Tucker Carlson Says to Air Interview with President of Iran
Tucker Carlson speaks on July 18, 2024 during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY via Reuters Connect
US conservative talk show host Tucker Carlson said in an online post on Saturday that he had conducted an interview with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which would air in the next day or two.
Carlson said the interview was conducted remotely through a translator, and would be published as soon as it was edited, which “should be in a day or two.”
Carlson said he had stuck to simple questions in the interview, such as, “What is your goal? Do you seek war with the United States? Do you seek war with Israel?”
“There are all kinds of questions that I didn’t ask the president of Iran, particularly questions to which I knew I could get an not get an honest answer, such as, ‘was your nuclear program totally disabled by the bombing campaign by the US government a week and a half ago?’” he said.
Carlson also said he had made a third request in the past several months to interview Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will be visiting Washington next week for talks with US President Donald Trump.
Trump said on Friday he would discuss Iran with Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.
Trump said he believed Tehran’s nuclear program had been set back permanently by recent US strikes that followed Israel’s attacks on the country last month, although Iran could restart it at a different location.
Trump also said Iran had not agreed to inspections of its nuclear program or to give up enriching uranium. He said he would not allow Tehran to resume its nuclear program, adding that Iran did want to meet with him.
Pezeshkian said last month Iran does not intend to develop nuclear weapons but will pursue its right to nuclear energy and research.
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Hostage Families Reject Partial Gaza Seal, Demand Release of All Hostages
Demonstrators hold signs and pictures of hostages, as relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages kidnapped during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas protest demanding the release of all hostages in Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 13, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Itai Ron
i24 News – As Israeli leaders weigh the contours of a possible partial ceasefire deal with Hamas, the families of the 50 hostages still held in Gaza issued an impassioned public statement this weekend, condemning any agreement that would return only some of the abductees.
In a powerful message released Saturday, the Families Forum for the Return of Hostages denounced what they call the “beating system” and “cruel selection process,” which, they say, has left families trapped in unbearable uncertainty for 638 days—not knowing whether to hope for reunion or prepare for mourning.
The group warned that a phased or selective deal—rumored to be under discussion—would deepen their suffering and perpetuate injustice. Among the 50 hostages, 22 are believed to be alive, and 28 are presumed dead.
“Every family deserves answers and closure,” the Forum said. “Whether it is a return to embrace or a grave to mourn over—each is sacred.”
They accused the Israeli government of allowing political considerations to prevent a full agreement that could have brought all hostages—living and fallen—home long ago. “It is forbidden to conform to the dictates of Schindler-style lists,” the statement read, invoking a painful historical parallel.
“All of the abductees could have returned for rehabilitation or burial months ago, had the government chosen to act with courage.”
The call for a comprehensive deal comes just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for high-stakes talks in Washington and as indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are expected to resume in Doha within the next 24 hours, according to regional media reports.
Hamas, for its part, issued a statement Friday confirming its readiness to begin immediate negotiations on the implementation of a ceasefire and hostage release framework.
The Forum emphasized that every day in captivity poses a mortal risk to the living hostages, and for the deceased, a danger of being lost forever. “The horror of selection does not spare any of us,” the statement said. “Enough with the separation and categories that deepen the pain of the families.”
In a planned public address near Begin Gate in Tel Aviv, families are gathering Saturday evening to demand that the Israeli government accept a full-release deal—what they describe as the only “moral and Zionist” path forward.
“We will return. We will avenge,” the Forum concluded. “This is the time to complete the mission.”
As of now, the Israeli government has not formally responded to Hamas’s latest statement.
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