Allan Levy, Publicity Director Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation

Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation is an established reform congregation that meets at the Sun Lakes Chapel at 7:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. Services are a wonderful opportunity to meet Rabbi Wiener, the cantor Ronda Polesky and hear the beautiful voices of our choir. New members are welcome and have the opportunity to meet congregants at the service and at the Oneg Shabbat following the service.

Our next service will be held on Friday, December 12 in the Sun Lakes Chapel.

Hanukkah Party – Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the congregation’s grand celebration of the Hanukkah Festival of Lights on Sunday, December 21 at 4:00 p.m. at the Oakwood Clubhouse. Buffet dinner, entertainment and fun for all ages!

Adults $18; Ages 6-12 $10: under 5 free. For more information call Shelly at 480-802-3608.

For Veteran’s Day, we had a special service to honor our veterans. Commander Ron Buckner of the Jewish War Veterans spoke, his abbreviated remarks follow.

Copper State Post 619 – located right here in Sun Lakes.

The JWV of the USA is the oldest continually active national veterans service organization in America. Founded in 1896, a group of Jewish Civil War veterans organized the Hebrew Union Veterans, which later was renamed Jewish War Veterans of America.

At the time of the Revolutionary War, a prominent Polish Jewish financier, Haym Solomon, immigrated to the colonies from Poland. Mr. Solomon sympathized with the Patriot cause and joined the New York branch of the Sons of Liberty. From 1781 through 1784 records show Solomon’s fundraising and personal lending provided over $650,000 (that would equal about $9 billion today!).

In August of 1781 the Continental Army had tracked Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis to the Virginian coastal town of Yorktown. George Washington and elements of the French Army decided to march from the Hudson Highlands to Yorktown and deliver the final blow. But…Washington’s and the Congress’s war chest was empty of funds. Without food, uniforms and supplies, Washington’s troops were close to mutiny. Washington determined that he needed at least $20,000 to finance the campaign. When Morris told him there were no funds and credit available, Washington was rumored to have said, “Send for Haym Salomon.”

Salomon personally raised the $20,000 needed through bills of exchange and Washington and the French troops conducted the successful final blow to the British – the famous Battle of Yorktown.

In May 1943, a Liberty ship, the SS Haym Salomon, was launched and survived the war.

In 1975 the US Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp honoring his contributions to the cause of the American Revolution.

There is a legend – Washington asked Salomon what he would like in return for his contributions to the Revolutionary War, he replied he wanted nothing for himself, but something for his people. As a result, over the great seal, there are 13 stars representing the 13 colonies, arranged in the shape of the Star of David.

The JWV supports national care and retraining for those veterans who returned from Vietnam, those in the last few years from Iraq and Afghanistan, and also those who are currently returning from serving our country at home and abroad. We are proud of what we do, who we are, the Sun Lakes community, and Chandler and its merchants that support our efforts.