Celebrating Chanukah on a Military Base

From the St. Louis Jewish Light:

By Jill Kassander

Special to the jewish Light

The caravan of cars filled with members of the Jewish War Veterans Post #644 left the Jewish Federation building on Sunday and headed to Scott Air Force Base to celebrate Hanukkah with military personnel and their families. More than 40 people of all ages joined in the celebration at the Chapel on Scott AFB.

The fun-filled event included snacks and lots of visiting between the retired veterans and Jewish personnel stationed at the base. Sharon Cohen, owner and operator of Big Top Clowns, donated her time to do face painting and entertainment for the children.

Air Force Captain Kimberly Juroviesky is the Jewish lay leader for the base. She and her husband Bernard organized the gathering. The couple and their five children live in University City and belong to Young Israel. Kimberly has been stationed at the base for one and one half years and estimates there are approximately 15 Jewish families in the area.

One of the newer Jewish families to the base is Commander of the 375th Airlift Wing, Col. Gary Goldstone. He and his wife Mary and their children Garrett and Danielle also joined in the celebration. Goldstone spoke to the group about his and Mary’s recent visit to the White House for a Hanukkah reception.

“It was magnificent,” said Goldstone. “There were 600 people there. The crowd spanned the whole spectrum of the Jewish religion and supporters of Israel.”

He said there was also a Jewish rap group playing contemporary music with melodies in English and Hebrew along with the Marine Band. The Hanukkah menorah Israel’s Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion had given to President Harry Truman was on display.

Goldstone brought an album from his visit at the White House which included photos and the invitation. Actually two invitations: the first invitation had accidently been sent with a Christmas themed cover. A second invitation was sent with an appropriate Jewish-themed cover.

The party goers were given full access to many rooms in the East Wing of the White House which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience said Goldstone.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to be with our commander-in-chief,” Goldstone said. “It is an honor to serve on behalf of our nation.”

JWV Post Commander Monroe Ginsburg spoke to the gathering about the history of Jews in the military and the Jewish War Veterans. He admitted it was hard to follow Goldstone’s presentation about celebrating Hanukkah in the White House with the President.

“It doesn’t get much better than that,” Ginsburg said.

Rabbi Max Weiman, Jewish scholar, author and expert on Kabbalah, also spoke at the gathering. He said he appreciated being able to be of service to the military and spoke on the deeper spiritual significance of Hanukkah.

Lt. Col. Terri Riutcel and her daughter Olivia had a great time mixing and mingling at the celebration.

Riutcel is a psychiatrist in the Air Force and lives in Belleville.

“I am originally from Central Missouri,” Riutcel said. “So being stationed at Scott AFB is kind of like being back home.”

The military personnel admitted it is a little challenging with the small Jewish population in the area around the base. However, many of the Jewish military families take advantage of their close proximity to the St. Louis Jewish community and all it has to offer. Riutcel attends Agudas Achim Beth Israel in Belleville. On Sundays, she carpools with another Jewish family in Belleville, to bring the children to religious school at Shaare Emeth.

“It is a long drive,” she said. “But it is really very enjoyable and Olivia and I make a day of it.”

LOCAL | Jewish War Veterans Post #644

Celebrating Hanukkah – on a military base

By Jill Kassander

Special to the jewish Light

The caravan of cars filled with members of the Jewish War Veterans Post #644 left the Jewish Federation building on Sunday and headed to Scott Air Force Base to celebrate Hanukkah with military personnel and their families. More than 40 people of all ages joined in the celebration at the Chapel on Scott AFB.

The fun-filled event included snacks and lots of visiting between the retired veterans and Jewish personnel stationed at the base. Sharon Cohen, owner and operator of Big Top Clowns, donated her time to do face painting and entertainment for the children.

Air Force Captain Kimberly Juroviesky is the Jewish lay leader for the base. She and her husband Bernard organized the gathering. The couple and their five children live in University City and belong to Young Israel. Kimberly has been stationed at the base for one and one half years and estimates there are approximately 15 Jewish families in the area.

One of the newer Jewish families to the base is Commander of the 375th Airlift Wing, Col. Gary Goldstone. He and his wife Mary and their children Garrett and Danielle also joined in the celebration. Goldstone spoke to the group about his and Mary’s recent visit to the White House for a Hanukkah reception.

“It was magnificent,” said Goldstone. “There were 600 people there. The crowd spanned the whole spectrum of the Jewish religion and supporters of Israel.”

He said there was also a Jewish rap group playing contemporary music with melodies in English and Hebrew along with the Marine Band. The Hanukkah menorah Israel’s Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion had given to President Harry Truman was on display.

Goldstone brought an album from his visit at the White House which included photos and the invitation. Actually two invitations: the first invitation had accidently been sent with a Christmas themed cover. A second invitation was sent with an appropriate Jewish-themed cover.

The party goers were given full access to many rooms in the East Wing of the White House which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience said Goldstone.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to be with our commander-in-chief,” Goldstone said. “It is an honor to serve on behalf of our nation.”

JWV Post Commander Monroe Ginsburg spoke to the gathering about the history of Jews in the military and the Jewish War Veterans. He admitted it was hard to follow Goldstone’s presentation about celebrating Hanukkah in the White House with the President.

“It doesn’t get much better than that,” Ginsburg said.

Rabbi Max Weiman, Jewish scholar, author and expert on Kabbalah, also spoke at the gathering. He said he appreciated being able to be of service to the military and spoke on the deeper spiritual significance of Hanukkah.

Lt. Col. Terri Riutcel and her daughter Olivia had a great time mixing and mingling at the celebration.

Riutcel is a psychiatrist in the Air Force and lives in Belleville.

“I am originally from Central Missouri,” Riutcel said. “So being stationed at Scott AFB is kind of like being back home.”

The military personnel admitted it is a little challenging with the small Jewish population in the area around the base. However, many of the Jewish military families take advantage of their close proximity to the St. Louis Jewish community and all it has to offer. Riutcel attends Agudas Achim Beth Israel in Belleville. On Sundays, she carpools with another Jewish family in Belleville, to bring the children to religious school at Shaare Emeth.

“It is a long drive,” she said. “But it is really very enjoyable and Olivia and I make a day of it.”