Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on March 30, 2024

A Winchester rabbi made the trek to Washington, D.C., last week to contribute to a ceremony when a secret World War II unit, known as the Ghost Army, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

On March 21, Rabbi Aaron Stucker-Rosovsky of Beth El Congregation gave the parting benediction after surviving members of the Ghost Army received Congress highest honor at the U.S. Capitol.

Bluntly, these soldiers helped save the world and humanity itself, he said during his prayer. Our American heritage is the Ghost Army and our freedom, our liberty, is their gift and legacy to us.

WWII soldiers in the Ghost Army used inflatable tanks, costume uniforms, acting, radio trickery and more to mislead the enemy. They are credited with changing the course of the war, though their efforts were kept secret for decades, according to The Associated Press.

Three of the seven known surviving members were able to attend the ceremony: Bernard Bluestein, 100, of Hoffman Estates, Illinois; John Christman, 99, of Leesburg, New Jersey; and Seymour Nussenbaum, 100, of Monroe Township, New Jersey.

It was surreal, humbling, and beautiful, Stucker-Rosovsky wrote in an email about the ceremony. Ill never forget it as long as I live.

A major in the Army National Guard, Stucker-Rosovsky was approached by members of the Ghost Army Legacy Project, which is the group that pushed for Ghost Army members to receive the medal. A friend of Stucker-Rosovskys, who is also an Army chaplain, directed the organization to reach out to Stucker-Rosovsky, since he lives near Washington.

Stucker-Rosovsky became the rabbi at Beth El in August of 2020, which was around the time he moved to Winchester. He said he and his wife have grown to love the place and the people.

Members of his congregation learned he would be attending the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony about a week before it occurred, and many were happy to hear it, he said.

Id like to think that everyone who serves in the Army is connected to previous generations who have worn the uniform, Stucker-Rosovsky wrote. Its why we strive to not only learn about, but more so, live up to the standards, deeds, and sacrifices of the Ghost Army [...] and so many countless others.

The Ghost Army included about 1,100 soldiers in the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, which carried out about 20 battlefield deceptions in France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany, and around 200 soldiers in the 3133rd Signal Company Special, which carried out two deceptions in Italy, according to The Associated Press.

In an interview before the ceremony, Nussenbaum said their work during the war was like putting on a big production.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said during the ceremony that its estimated that between 15,000 and 30,000 lives were saved because of the Ghost Armys work, the AP reported.

The full event can be viewed online, as broadcasted by The Associated Press, C-SPAN and other media outlets.

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Winchester rabbi takes part in Ghost Army ceremony - The Winchester Star

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