Welcome
The Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-servicemen and Women Inc
invites you to put your support behind their first ever
Pilgrimage Service for our
Jewish ex-servicemen and women, being conducted at
The Shrine of Remembrance, 1st August 2010 at 11am.
Who is VAJEX?
The Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-servicemen and Women Inc cares for Jewish military personnel and is open to all who are currently serving, or have served, in Allied Forces. Membership is also open to their families as non-service members. Our Patron-in-Chief is Rt Hon Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO KStJ QC and our Patron is MAJGEN Jeffrey V Rosenfeld CStJ.
Why the Pilgrimage?
To remember and recognise our Jewish Fallen from Victoria who served alongside fellow Australians and Allied Forces. Australian Jews have demonstrated their loyalty by serving their country in the Boer War 1899-1902, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan and have also served as Peace Keepers. VAJEX has a proud 80 year history, and despite our being around since 1929, we remain little known in the wider military and service communities. In the past 12 months, we have been working tirelessly to promote the association using methods never before utilised. We hope to raise awareness to other military associations of our existence, so that Jewish ex-servicemen and women, who may be members of other Corps associations, can be directed to us. Our aim is to foster feelings of mutual respect and strengthen our bonds to other Service associations.
It was decided to initiate a separate service to be held in a non-Jewish, high-profile and respected venue. The Shrine of Remembrance was the obvious choice for this service and with our application being granted by the Shrine’s Ceremonial Committee, immediate preparations began.
You may be aware that General Sir John Monash GCMG KCB VD, who was Commander of the Australian Army Corps in 1918 and himself Jewish, was the driving force behind The Shrine, and being an engineer, took personal charge of the construction. Sadly, he didn’t live to see its completion and dedication in 1934. History is about to be made by VAJEX having its inaugural memorial annual service at this magnificent monument.
What will be in the Service?
The service will be led by our own Chaplain Rabbi Dovid Gutnick with participation from the Chief Minister of St Kilda Shule, Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn, a highly gifted cantor of international reputation. The service will be uniquely Jewish in flavour, and one which will be memorable. Our Fallen from the previous year will be named by President, Ben Hirsh, and opportunity will be given for all attending, to place a poppy in the Shrine’s urn. Our Patron, Major General Jeffrey V Rosenfeld CStJ will lay a wreath, immediately followed by the Ode, Last Post, Minute’s Silence and Rouse. Rabbi Heilbrunn will then chant Kel Maleh Rachamim and Kaddish in both Hebrew and English. We anticipate the duration of the service to be 20~30 minutes. A light Kosher morning tea will be available afterwards for a “get to know you”.
Our Memorial Stakes will be on display and we'd like to encourage family members who have dedicated a Memorial Stake, to come along and support the event.
VAJEX Flag Unfurled
The new VAJEX flag will be dedicated and unfurled for the first time in our history. Share and celebrate this special occassion with us.
You, all your colleagues, family and friends are most warmly invited to attend. Please endeavour to send your representative group to this important event. Medals and uniforms to be worn.
For further details and enquiries, VAJEX President Ben Hirsh can be contacted on 0412 307 031.
~ LEST WE FORGET ~
ELECTION RESULTS
COMMITTEE
President: Ben Hirsh
Vice President: Judy Landau
Hon Secretary: Ian Mansfield
Treasurer: Ian Mansfield
Public Officer: Stephen Tusak
Welfare Officer: Eric Gordon
Committee: Pearl Crafti, Louise Dyskin,
Bezalel Goldberg, Harry Groch, Harold Karpin
GUEST SPEAKER
PATRON
Major General Jeffrey V Rosenfeld CStJ
CHEQUE PRESENTED TO MAGEN DAVID ADOM
Co-President
Dr Debora Lipson
by VAJEX President Mr Ben Hirsh
CHEQUE PRESENTED TO FRIENDS OF BEIT HALOCHEM - VIC INC
President
Mr John Furstenberg
by VAJEX President Mr Ben Hirsh
