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Post 692

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Although the turnout at our last meeting was not as large as I had hoped, we did have a good group come to vsit the Historic 6th & I Street Synagogue. Our host, Department of DC chaplain Mike Bloom provided us with a detailed history of the synagogue, its architecture and the uniqueness of its Bima and Ark.

Those of you who attended the January meeting know that Past Commander Walter Gold is collecting names of individuals who are interested in volunteering at least one day a month at the Hebrew Home to put into action our theme of service. If you haven’t signed up, please do. Also, I need to get names of individuals interested in being interviewed for a Bat Mitzvah project being taken by the two daughters of Valerie Hackman in honor of their grandfather. If you are interested, please let me know.

We have an excellent program for this meeting. Only recently declassified, the raising of the sunken Soviet submarine, K-129, by the Glomar Explorer in 1974, has been called one of the greatest engineering feats in history. Our own Marshall Sneiderman, who was involved in this project will present this history making event to us. This is a meeting you won’t want to miss. We will also have as a guest, Ms. Mary Westley, the Assistant Administrator of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, who may have a few words about upcoming Museum programs and ongoing changes to the Museum’s permanent display. Lastly, I want to welcome Jacob Bergman, our newest member. Jacob served with Patton’s 3rd Army and was with him from Normandy to Austria.

8 Feb - Tu Bishvat 12 Feb - Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday 14 Feb - Valentine’s Day 15 Feb - Post Board Meeting - 7:15PM Georgetown Village Community Room—11410 Strand, Rockville, MD - all members welcome 20 Feb - President’s Day 22 Feb - George Washington’s Birthday 4 Mar - Regular Post meeting & Brunch.
As mentioned in the Commander’s Corner, we had a very nice tour of the Historic Sixth & I Street Synagogue. Docent Michael Bloom, who is also the Chaplain for JWV’s Department of DC, gave us a detailed history of the building and pointed out some of its unique features, such as an Ark with windows inside! The Synagogue was originally the home of Congregation Adas Israel, who had seceded in 1896 from the reform Washington Hebrew Congregation. In 1899, the congregation decided to build a new Synagogue and in 1905, purchased the lot at the corner of Sixth and I. Construction began in 1906 and the building was dedicated in 1908. By 1945, however, the congregation had outgrown the building and began is move to its current location on Connecticut Ave NW. The synagogue building was acquired by the Turner Memorial A.M.E. Church in 1951, the same year the new Adas Israel Synagogue was dedicated. In 2002, Turner A.M.E. decided to relocated and spurred on by the Jewish Historical Society, Abe Polin, Shelton Zuckerman and Douglas Jemal acquire the building and turn it into a Jewish community facility. Thus, on April 22, 2004, the building was rededicated as the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. Since then, it has become a vibrant meeting place for the Washington area Jewish community as well as many dignitaries, such as President George W. Bush, Elie Wiesel and Leon Wieseltier, as well as Dr. Jill Biden and Representative Nancy Pelosi.	Sixth & I Historic Synagogue Michael Bloom and members of Post 692 Synagogue's Ark with torahs and three windows
Stained glass window above the Bimah

DON'T FORGET: YOUR USED STAMPS, ALUMINUM CAN TABS, and EMPTY PRINTER CARTRIDGES

IMPORTANT VA INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS VA News www.va.gov/opa/feature/vanews/index.asp VA web site for what is new and in the works for Veterans. The site is easy to use and in a vid-eo format. Once the veteran is in tune for what is going on, the veteran can direct his attention into the details. Your benefits are waiting for you. You need to act.

Gil Waganheim Opening the Altar

ZEDAKAH

Maryland Veterans Cemeteries is the title of a brochure that is available from the Maryland Veterans Commission, Cemetery Program, Federal Building, Room 110, 31 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD. 21201. The brochure details the information needed to gain burial in one of the 5 Cemeteries in the state plus maps of their location. It’s never too late to plan ahead.

To protect the drivers and patients in Israeli ambulances from terrorist gunfire members of our Post have been contributing funds for ARMDI who provides ambulance protective equipment. All contributions, including those in memory of or commemorating an important event, should be made payable to ARMDI and mailed to Bill Hennoch, 8804 Wooden Bridge Rd., Potomac MD. All contributors are recognized by the Post. To date, more than $3,000.00 has been contributed by individual Post members.