JWV Post holding Veterans Day events to honor Judge Sol & Jaqueline Gothard
The Ben Katz Post # 580 of the Jewish War Veterans is holding a series of events centered around the Veterans Day Holiday traditionally held on November 11.
Jacqueline and Judge Sol Gothard from 2012. (Photo by Alan Smason)
The night before, on Thursday, November 10, both former post commander Judge Sol Gothard and his wife Jacqueline, both of blessed memory, will be honored as part of a presentation at Temple Sinai from 6:30 – 9:30. Their daughter Dr. Shayna Gothard Kaufmann will speak first at Temple Sinai, 6227 St. Charles Avenue, on the topic of “60 Years of Love. A Lifetime of Social Justice.”
Gothard will be followed by keynote speaker professor Leah Garret, the chair of Jewish Studies from Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY). She will speak on her award-winning book “Young Lions: How Jewish Authors Reinvented the American War Novel.” Garret is expected to speak on the disproportionately high rates of Jewish service and enlistment in the military during World War II. Among the authors she is expected to highlight from her book are Norman Mailer, Joseph Heller and Herman Wouk.
Refreshments will be provided following the talks. The JWV post is arranging for bus transportation from Metairie, but this is contingent on the number of requests for transportation in advance.
On Veterans Day, Friday, November 11, Dr. Hilton Title, Post Color Sergeant, will play “Taps” in memory of all fallen veterans at the (New) Beth Israel Cemetery,, 4400 Elysian Fields Blvd, in New Orleans. The names of the fallen will be read beginning on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The service will run from 11 a..m – 12 noon. Because the Mourner’s Kaddish will be read, all help in making a minyan is requested.
Later that night on Shabbat, both Congregation Gates of Prayer, 4000 W. Esplanade Avenue in Metairie, and Temple Sinai will honor veterans with programs of their own. Both services are slated to begin at 6:15 p.m. The names of the post and those who fell on 9/11 will be read as part of each event. Joel Picker will host the event at Gates of Prayer, while Post Commander Carol Berman will speak at Temple Sinai.
On Saturday, November 12, Berman will continue by reading the list of the names of the fallen at Congregation Beth Israel, 4004 West Esplanade Avenue in Metairie. Post Chaplain Rabbi David Posternock will speak at at Kiddush honoring the Gothards after services. The event on Thursday night at Temple Sinai is open to the public, but seating at the Shabbat event is limited to congregation members.
Attendees are asked to bring family and friends and to wear masks and adhere to all COVID-19 policies for indoor events.
