VAJEX
VAJEX
Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen & Women Inc
Caring for Jewish Military Personnel from Allied Forces & Their Families
On the 14th December 1924, Lt-Gen Sir John Monash unveiled the Memorial Obelisk at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton. It was erected by the Chevra Kadisha to honour the (then) 61 Jewish fallen of World War I who came from Victoria or served in Victorian raised units. With the passage of time and research, there are now 82 names. In 1947, a further 60 names were added around the four sides of the base to honour the fallen of World War II.
In 1929, a group of Jewish veterans of WWI formed The Jewish Returned Soldiers’ Circle (JRSC) with MAJ Isadore Isaacson VD, as its first President. They forged strong bonds with the veteran and general community by honouring and keeping the memories alive of those who fell in war.
In 1946, following the end of World War II, a group of Jewish men and women who didn’t serve overseas, formed the Victorian Jewish Ex-Service Association. It was three years later that an amalgamation took place between them and the JRSC to be known as the Victorian Jewish Returned and Ex-Service Association. In 1956, the Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (VAJEX) became the new name. It also took in veterans who served in Allied Forces and Partisan formations in WWII. Later, membership was opened to ex-National Service and Citizen Military Force members.
In 2008, the membership voted unanimously to accept the New Rules, replacing the old Constitution, which now allows non-service relatives of people who served to become members. The Association has also become incorporated. We are now reaching out to the large number of Jewish men and women currently serving in the Australian Defence Force. One of the many aims of the Committee has been realised with the launching of our website which is attracting wide attention.
Our aim is to foster the bond between ex-servicemen and women, and to commemorate the fallen; we hold annual ANZAC Day Service, Remembrance Day Services and a Remembrance Day Luncheon, each with an invited speaker; an end of month social gathering with speaker and a BBQ in December.
The military ritual is recited at funerals at the family’s request.
It is important that the few hundred military personnel who are now serving in Australia’s Defence Force know about us and also know how to reach our Chaplain.
VAJEX
Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen & Women Inc
Caring for Jewish Military Personnel from Allied Forces & Their Families
www.jewishmilitaryvic.org.au
President: Ben Hirsh Phone 0412 307 031 email president@jewishmilitaryvic.org.au
Secretary: Ian Mansfield email secretary@jewishmilitaryvic.org.au
Chaplain: CAPT Rabbi Dovid Gutnick chaplain@jewishmilitaryvic.org.au
Welfare Officer: Eric Gordon: welfare@jewishmilitaryvic.org.au
Web Master: Judy Landau email webmaster@jewishmilitaryvic.org.au
VAJEX NEWS
The Victorian Association of Jewish Ex & Servicemen & Women Australia Inc. (VAJEX) has made its second Annual Pilgrimage Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.
The VAJEX flag flew proudly from the main flagpole in the Shrine’s forecourt near the display of over 100 VAJEX Remembrance Stakes. The front line not only displayed the names of two VC winners but included that of General Sir John Monash, an important figure in the design and construction of the Shrine. Tragically Sir John did not live to see its opening.
Climbing the steps to the Sanctuary gave a feeling of solemn anticipation. Once inside, people whispered in homage to the sacred site.
As well as generals and other VIP’s, VAJEX was pleased to welcome WGCDR Peter Isaacson AM, DFC, AFC, DFM, a famous WWII Jewish war ace and currently Shrine Life Governor.
Chaplain Captain Rabbi Dovid Gutnick opened the ceremony by inviting Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn OAM to sound ‘The Great Shofar for our Freedom.’ It was an awe inspiring moment to remember as the historic sound echoed from the responsive walls creating a special occasion.
David Brykman chanted Psalm 91 with such beauty and feeling that only a Jewish cantor can evoke at which time the military theme of the ceremony took place as the Honour Guard marched into the Sanctuary with ‘fixed bayonets.’
The President of VAJEX, ,Ben Hirsh read the Roll of Honour after which Major-General Jeffrey V Rosenfeld AM CStJ, patron of VAJEX, laid a wreath on behalf of the Association. This was followed by all present, offering poppies which had been donated by the Shrine Trust…. a very personal and meaningful inclusion to the ceremony.
Major General Rosenfeld opened his address with the truism that “the only ones who see the end of war are those who die in it.” He went on to point out the important role that one plays in contributing to the defence of one’s country and who fight for democracy.
The President recited the’ Ode’ which preceded CPL Sean Nihill sounding the ‘Last Post’ and ‘Rouse’ on the bugle. If the Shofar was not enough to arouse emotions, the bugle with its haunting strains certainly was.
Rabbi Heilbrunn chanted Kel Moleh Rachami and Kaddish.
The Service concluded when the Honour Guard ‘shouldered arms’ and marched from the Sanctuary
The memory of all those Victorian Jewish fallen is being sustained within a sacred and protected site and the Service gave the same special feeling as one gets at Kol Nidre.
More than 300 people gathered at the Rose Hall, Mount Scopus Memorial College, for the Victorian Association of Jewish Ex & Servicemen and Women Australia Inc., VAJEX’s, 96th Anniversary of ANZAC Day commemoration.
The occasion marked the inaugural presentation of the PTE Greg Sher Memorial Shield to Victorian Jewish Schools and students made in the presence of Chief of Army LT GEN Ken Gillespie AC, DSC, CSM, as Guest of Honour.
Guests viewed Judy Landau’s visual display of the meaning of VAJEX and the horrors of war. before the ceremony began with an official welcome extended by VAJEX President Mr Ben Hirsh to the Guest of Honour, as well as to the many Military Personnel, Rabbis and Community figures present.
Memorial candles had been lit prior to the start of the ceremony, and all present were invited to come forward and light a candle for departed love ones. The the glow of the many candles litserved as a solemn reminder for a reason to come together to pay homage to those who had made the supreme sacrifice to secure freedom.
Chaplain Rabbi Dovid Gutnick prayed for peace, followed by PTE Jason Hyams , a veteran of the Afghanistan war, who read Psalm 46. Representatives from the invited Jewish schools read selected prayers.The prayers were those of hope and with the theme of peace – appropriate for the coming generation.
General Gillespie opened his address by promising it would not follow the theme of many repetitive ANZAC speeches. Rather, it would suggest the willingness of the small Jewish community who served their country with honour. This was exemplified by the sacrifice that Greg Sher had made. In fact it gave new meaning to ANZAC Day. The General went on to extol the bravery of a common soldier who by
Greg Sher
his deeds became revered by those who he had been sent to protect and guide. So much so, that his trainees could not believe that such a highly trained man could be both a soldier and work at a civilian profession. Such was his being that he was respected by Muslim and Christian alike, both as a person of honour and a Jew. Greg’s bravery has been recognised in Israel with the planting of an avenue of trees in his name. In making mention of one of his favourite poems ‘The Man in the Arena’ the General was able to tie the death of PTE Sher to a new growing bond between the Army and the Jewish Community. This sentence alone brought a new meaning to the sacrifice Greg Sher and his family have made. It may well become a deep and solemn legend long into the future of Jewish military service – an act that brought a cementing of our role in the search for peace.
This was a new way for Jews to remember ANZAC Day. However a more significant moment was to come when young Joshua Leach dragged a chair to the lectern so that he could reach the microphone. In keeping with the spirit of Passover, Joshua asked a question, “What is the meaning of ANZAC Day?” His question was answered by the poem ‘All the Bloomin’ Way’. More meaning was brought to the reading by the sight of young Joshua proudly displaying medals won by his relatives. Just as Joshua stood as a link to the future, so did the cries of a baby cradled by its mother – surely the reason for our fight for freedom.
A Judy Landau video was played to a hushed crowd. As a reminder that ANZACs fought in more than one theatre of war, Judy’s video zeroed in on the Anzacs performance in New Guinea to be followed by the stark images of Jewish War Graves.
The wreath laying ceremony followed in respectful silence to be continued by VAJEX President, Ben Hirsh reciting ‘The Ode’, a call to all to remember the fallen. Then as had been heard around the world on ANZAC Day came the mournful sounds of an Army bugler calling all to attention for The Last Post- A Minutes Silence- and Rouse. A calling that echoed around the bowed heads and I’m sure that the bright tone of a devoted soldier brought a few tears to the guests.
The official ceremony drew to a close with the KEL MALEH RACHAMIM and KADDISH.
The ceremony then took on a new significance with the presentation by Mr and Mrs Sher of PTE Greg Sher’s Memorial Shields to contributing Victorian Jewish Schools and their representative who were chosen for their outstanding achievements throughout the year. The shields were inaugurated by VAJEX a s a fitting tribute to Greg Sher.
This report was sent to J-Wire by SQN LDR Harold Karpin RAAF [Ret]
The Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women has launched its first web site.The site has just gone live and carries the following mission statement:
With a history stretching way beyond the life and times of one of Australia’s greatest war heroes, the late Sir John Monashright up to the present time recording the life and tragic death of Private Greg Sher in Afghanistan, the site is sure to provide a fascinating insight into the lives of those who served in the armed forces helping to create the Australia we know today.
Not quite complete, it will prove to be more than useful to families connected with the military and to schoolchildren seeking to further their knowledge of community life.
The web site can be found at www.jewishmilitaryvic.org.au
