Remembrance tributes for Jewish soldiers

Dilbertian · 2023-11-09T17:09:21+00:00

Tens of thousands of Jewish men and women have served in the British armed forces, and thousands died in service during the World Wars and since. Do you know that you can get remembrance tributes with Magen David on them, to place in your area's Field of Remembrance for Remembrance Sunday? https://www.poppyshop.org.uk/products/remembrance-tribute-star-of-david

AbsoluteYawns · 09/11/2023 21:26

That's fantastic OP I didn't know that. Thank you for sharing.

PurpleChrayne · 09/11/2023 21:39

This is lovely.

I volunteered on a project called "Jews of WW1: We Were There Too", which really opened my eyes to the Jewish contribution to the Great War.

I'm wearing a poppy for the first time this year, as is DH. I can't quite explain why. I guess I feel like proving that I'm a good, upright British citizen so they won't come for me.

G-d, it's depressing!

Original poster

Dilbertian · 09/11/2023 23:31

I'm sorry that I only posted this today, when it's probably too late to order these markers in time for Remembrance Sunday, but there is still time to add them to the tributes that will remain in place after Sunday.

I got mine at my synagogue last week, and went to place them today, which was when I realised I ought to publicise them here.

I try and place a Magen David poppy in the Field of Remembrance every year. None of my ancestors died as British servicemen. Mine were murdered by the people these British Jews were fighting. So I do a bit of research, find the name of a Jewish soldier who died in British service, read about their life, and write their name on the marker. This year I commemorated Gerald and Basil Felsenstein, twins who joined the RAF and who died in 1942 and 1945. I see it as parallel to placing a pebble upon a grave marker and speaking the person's name.

PurpleChrayne, yes, exactly. This year I really feel the need to point out that British Jews are equally upright British citizens.

OP posts:

Certainfailure · 10/11/2023 12:06

@Dilbertian that’s a lovely thing to do.

0palfruity · 10/11/2023 21:03

Dilbertian · 09/11/2023 23:31

I'm sorry that I only posted this today, when it's probably too late to order these markers in time for Remembrance Sunday, but there is still time to add them to the tributes that will remain in place after Sunday.

I got mine at my synagogue last week, and went to place them today, which was when I realised I ought to publicise them here.

I try and place a Magen David poppy in the Field of Remembrance every year. None of my ancestors died as British servicemen. Mine were murdered by the people these British Jews were fighting. So I do a bit of research, find the name of a Jewish soldier who died in British service, read about their life, and write their name on the marker. This year I commemorated Gerald and Basil Felsenstein, twins who joined the RAF and who died in 1942 and 1945. I see it as parallel to placing a pebble upon a grave marker and speaking the person's name.

PurpleChrayne, yes, exactly. This year I really feel the need to point out that British Jews are equally upright British citizens.

This is such a beautiful thing to do! I too am now thinking of Gerald and Basil and their poor parents losing both of their boys ❤️