JWV POST 126 NEWSLETTER

JWV/JWVA Mid-winter Convention BANQUET:
January 13, 2007 at the Port-O-Call Hotel, Ocean City, New Jersey. Anyone wishing to attend the banquet only, call Arthur Seltzer at 856-428-1561. Rooms have already been reserved for those who have paid.

Also look for information in the coming months about the Department of New Jersey’s summer convention to be held in June, 2007.

Card Game at Mark 70, instead of Jay Jaspan’s:
Monday, January 15th.

Under-used Benefit for Veterans and Spouses: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reaching out to inform wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans about an under-used, special monthly pension benefit called Aid and Attendance. To qualify, claimants must be incapable of self support and in need of regular personal assistance. Additional information and assistance in applying for the Aid and Attendance benefit may be obtained by calling 1-800-827-1000. Applications may be submitted on-line at www.vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp. Information is also available on the Internet at www.va.gov or from any local veterans service organization.

A THANK YOU TO POST 126 FOR THE CHANUKAH PACKAGES - FROM IRAQ:
Sir,
I just wanted to say thanks (Toda Raba) for the nice grooming kits that you sent to us. I am already using mine and it has made being here better and more comfortable.

I am enclosing some pictures of our candle lighting here in Camp Fallujah... It is always nice to get together for the candle lighting which brings thoughts of home. It gives us a chance to meet others, learn, and make new friends.

I am here with the Seabees 3RD NCR and have been here since March 2006. I was also able to celebrate Pesach here as well. It is always interesting to observe the holidays in unusual places. Especially here in the land of Abraham and Sarah.

If you don't mind please tell me about yourself and Post 126. I believe I need to join the JWV and help you in doing a mitzvah for our service members.

Thank you again for your kindness.
V/R,
YNC (FMF/SW) William Oglesby
3RD NCR


TO F. Penina Hoffnung, Director Dept of Jewish Education & Continuity,
JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY:
Please extend my thank you to the South Jersey Jewish school leadership and students for supporting Operation Maccabbi 2006 with Hanukkah cards and letter for the troops. We send over 400 cards and letters from the Southern New Jersey community to Jewish troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and the surrounding middle-eastern countries "stans." I spoke to Chaplain/ Rabbi (Colonel) Ira Kronenberg, USAR last night and he said the Hanukkah cards and letters arrived and were handed out to several hundred Jewish troops in the combat area.
I'm sure the cards and letters provided the troops great comfort from home in a hostile environment.

Thank you again for participating in Operation Maccabbi 2006.

Have a happy and healthy New Year!
Please feel free to e-mail this message to your schools and students.

Sincerely,
Nelson


CHANUKAH HUMOR:
A woman goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Chanukah cards. She says to the clerk, "May I have 50 Chanukah stamps?"
The clerk says, "What denomination?"
"Oh my God," the woman says, "has it come to this? Give me 6 Orthodox,
12 Conservative and 32 Reform."


PRESS RELEASE FROM NATIONAL JWV:
JWV Opposes Criminal or Civil Claim against Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and Others.
The Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV) opposes the vacuous political efforts to have former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and others face civil or criminal charges brought by former prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan for what appears to be purely political purposes.
The prisoners, represented by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), contend that Rumsfeld and other high-ranking military officials ignored warnings about the alleged abuse of these prisoners, and they were in violation of their constitutional rights.
This once again confirms our proposal that no American troops or officials be assigned to any country which does not grant them immunity. This was recently shown in Belgium, where NATO is erecting new buildings, and in Germany, where U.S. troops number 65,000. In both instances the suits were denied lest the U.S. withdraw funding and personnel. But what will happen after the U.S. withdraws from the country?
The JWV has long been on record in opposing the jurisdiction of civil courts and such entities as the International Criminal Court to try American government officials or our troops for actions committed in the course of their terms of office or actions (political or military). Such prosecutions would leave civil courts free to try cases which ought to be adjudicated by military courts. Such cases could also lead to officials of a sovereign government being tried by courts with no jurisdiction to adjudicate internal matters of another sovereign government.
It is for this reason that government officials are generally immune from civil suits related to their jobs as representatives of a government entity. The JWV supports this position and urges the Federal judge hearing this case to dismiss these claims. Our officials and military officers must be free to conduct their jobs as they see fit without the threat of prosecution from a civil court or an international body that does not have jurisdiction over the actions of the representatives of a sovereign nation. COMMUNICATIONS:
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