Jewish War Veterans honor and remember local veterans
Jewish War Veterans members across Capital District volunteered to support Trees for Troops holiday initiative.
The Jewish World
3
mins read time
Originally published at
The Jewish World
Capital District Council Commander Rich Goldenberg, from Albany Post 105 and
Schenectady Post 106 Senior Vice Commander Karl Auerbach pause after the loading of trees at Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa.They assisted in the loading of 125 donated Christmas Trees in support of the Trees for Troops initiative of the Christmas Spirit Foundation.
Members of the Jewish War Veterans(JWV) of the U.S.A. from across the Capital District Council volunteered their time to honor and remember their fellow veterans this past holiday season.
In 2025, the rare simultaneous celebration of Christmas and Chanukah on Dec. 25 brought opportunities for JWV members to celebrate with the community. The season of mitzvot began Monday, Dec. 2. with two volunteers lending support to the national Trees for Troops loadout of donated Christmas Trees at Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa. Capital District Council Commander Rich Goldenberg and Schenectady Post 106 Senior Vice Commander Karl Auerbach volunteered to help load trees.
Volunteers from the Jewish War Veterans gather for a memorial prayer before placing stones at the grave sites of Jewish personnel buried at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. From left, Ron Tremper, Shawn Tabankin, Ephren Tabankin, Karl Auerbach, Col. Jason Lefton, Post 105 Commander Fred Altman, Andy Brachfield, Post 106 Commander Gene Altman, Jack Gold and William Jaffe. Photo by Rich Goldenberg.
The JWV council, representing Albany Post 105, Schenectady Post 106 and Saratoga Springs Post 36 then met Sunday, Dec 8, to place memorial stones on the Jewish headstones at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. Eleven volunteers gathered at the Jewish Veterans memorial plaque inside the national cemetery to say the Mourner’s Kaddish and then placed stones on the headstones of 207 Jewish veterans buried on the cemetery grounds.
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“It was a fitting way for our Jewish organization to remember our fallen during this holiday season in our own faith tradition,” explained Albany Post 105 Commander Fred Altman.
The JWV provided coordination with the national cemetery to ensure that Jewish personnel buried there would have their own unique remembrance to honor, remember and educate our volunteers about the importance of their service.
Ephren Tabankin, son of Albany Post 105 member Shawn Tabankin, places a memorial stone at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. This was the third consecutive year that JWV was able to conduct its remembrance during the holiday season.
Later in December, five JWV volunteers from Posts 105 and 106 gathered at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany for the return of Operation Jingle Bells. Jewish War Veterans visit patients and staff at the medical center on Christmas Eve. The effort, now ongoing for four decades, is meant to show JWV’s commitment to support veterans, especially those unable to be home with family for the holidays, according to Goldenberg.
“The VA Medical Center always welcomes the Jewish War Veterans,” said Dom Dominguez, the chief for the VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement. “Our inpatient veterans benefit from your visit very much, and we love to have you all visit our patients! Thank you for your continued service to our veterans.”
Originally published at
The Jewish World
ADVERTISEMENT
Jewish War Veterans honor and remember local veterans
Jewish War Veterans members across Capital District volunteered to support Trees for Troops holiday initiative.
The Jewish World
3
mins read time
Originally published at
The Jewish World
Capital District Council Commander Rich Goldenberg, from Albany Post 105 and
Schenectady Post 106 Senior Vice Commander Karl Auerbach pause after the loading of trees at Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa.They assisted in the loading of 125 donated Christmas Trees in support of the Trees for Troops initiative of the Christmas Spirit Foundation.
Members of the Jewish War Veterans(JWV) of the U.S.A. from across the Capital District Council volunteered their time to honor and remember their fellow veterans this past holiday season.
In 2025, the rare simultaneous celebration of Christmas and Chanukah on Dec. 25 brought opportunities for JWV members to celebrate with the community. The season of mitzvot began Monday, Dec. 2. with two volunteers lending support to the national Trees for Troops loadout of donated Christmas Trees at Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa. Capital District Council Commander Rich Goldenberg and Schenectady Post 106 Senior Vice Commander Karl Auerbach volunteered to help load trees.
Volunteers from the Jewish War Veterans gather for a memorial prayer before placing stones at the grave sites of Jewish personnel buried at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. From left, Ron Tremper, Shawn Tabankin, Ephren Tabankin, Karl Auerbach, Col. Jason Lefton, Post 105 Commander Fred Altman, Andy Brachfield, Post 106 Commander Gene Altman, Jack Gold and William Jaffe. Photo by Rich Goldenberg.
The JWV council, representing Albany Post 105, Schenectady Post 106 and Saratoga Springs Post 36 then met Sunday, Dec 8, to place memorial stones on the Jewish headstones at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. Eleven volunteers gathered at the Jewish Veterans memorial plaque inside the national cemetery to say the Mourner’s Kaddish and then placed stones on the headstones of 207 Jewish veterans buried on the cemetery grounds.
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“It was a fitting way for our Jewish organization to remember our fallen during this holiday season in our own faith tradition,” explained Albany Post 105 Commander Fred Altman.
The JWV provided coordination with the national cemetery to ensure that Jewish personnel buried there would have their own unique remembrance to honor, remember and educate our volunteers about the importance of their service.
Ephren Tabankin, son of Albany Post 105 member Shawn Tabankin, places a memorial stone at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. This was the third consecutive year that JWV was able to conduct its remembrance during the holiday season.
Later in December, five JWV volunteers from Posts 105 and 106 gathered at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany for the return of Operation Jingle Bells. Jewish War Veterans visit patients and staff at the medical center on Christmas Eve. The effort, now ongoing for four decades, is meant to show JWV’s commitment to support veterans, especially those unable to be home with family for the holidays, according to Goldenberg.
“The VA Medical Center always welcomes the Jewish War Veterans,” said Dom Dominguez, the chief for the VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement. “Our inpatient veterans benefit from your visit very much, and we love to have you all visit our patients! Thank you for your continued service to our veterans.”
Originally published at
The Jewish World
ADVERTISEMENT
Jewish War Veterans honor and remember local veterans
Jewish War Veterans members across Capital District volunteered to support Trees for Troops holiday initiative.
The Jewish World
3
mins read time
Originally published at
The Jewish World
Capital District Council Commander Rich Goldenberg, from Albany Post 105 and
Schenectady Post 106 Senior Vice Commander Karl Auerbach pause after the loading of trees at Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa.They assisted in the loading of 125 donated Christmas Trees in support of the Trees for Troops initiative of the Christmas Spirit Foundation.
Members of the Jewish War Veterans(JWV) of the U.S.A. from across the Capital District Council volunteered their time to honor and remember their fellow veterans this past holiday season.
In 2025, the rare simultaneous celebration of Christmas and Chanukah on Dec. 25 brought opportunities for JWV members to celebrate with the community. The season of mitzvot began Monday, Dec. 2. with two volunteers lending support to the national Trees for Troops loadout of donated Christmas Trees at Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa. Capital District Council Commander Rich Goldenberg and Schenectady Post 106 Senior Vice Commander Karl Auerbach volunteered to help load trees.
Volunteers from the Jewish War Veterans gather for a memorial prayer before placing stones at the grave sites of Jewish personnel buried at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. From left, Ron Tremper, Shawn Tabankin, Ephren Tabankin, Karl Auerbach, Col. Jason Lefton, Post 105 Commander Fred Altman, Andy Brachfield, Post 106 Commander Gene Altman, Jack Gold and William Jaffe. Photo by Rich Goldenberg.
The JWV council, representing Albany Post 105, Schenectady Post 106 and Saratoga Springs Post 36 then met Sunday, Dec 8, to place memorial stones on the Jewish headstones at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. Eleven volunteers gathered at the Jewish Veterans memorial plaque inside the national cemetery to say the Mourner’s Kaddish and then placed stones on the headstones of 207 Jewish veterans buried on the cemetery grounds.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It was a fitting way for our Jewish organization to remember our fallen during this holiday season in our own faith tradition,” explained Albany Post 105 Commander Fred Altman.
The JWV provided coordination with the national cemetery to ensure that Jewish personnel buried there would have their own unique remembrance to honor, remember and educate our volunteers about the importance of their service.
Ephren Tabankin, son of Albany Post 105 member Shawn Tabankin, places a memorial stone at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. This was the third consecutive year that JWV was able to conduct its remembrance during the holiday season.
Later in December, five JWV volunteers from Posts 105 and 106 gathered at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany for the return of Operation Jingle Bells. Jewish War Veterans visit patients and staff at the medical center on Christmas Eve. The effort, now ongoing for four decades, is meant to show JWV’s commitment to support veterans, especially those unable to be home with family for the holidays, according to Goldenberg.
“The VA Medical Center always welcomes the Jewish War Veterans,” said Dom Dominguez, the chief for the VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement. “Our inpatient veterans benefit from your visit very much, and we love to have you all visit our patients! Thank you for your continued service to our veterans.”
Originally published at
The Jewish World
ADVERTISEMENT
Jewish War Veterans honor and remember local veterans
Jewish War Veterans members across Capital District volunteered to support Trees for Troops holiday initiative.
The Jewish World
3
mins read time
Originally published at
The Jewish World
Capital District Council Commander Rich Goldenberg, from Albany Post 105 and
Schenectady Post 106 Senior Vice Commander Karl Auerbach pause after the loading of trees at Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa.They assisted in the loading of 125 donated Christmas Trees in support of the Trees for Troops initiative of the Christmas Spirit Foundation.
Members of the Jewish War Veterans(JWV) of the U.S.A. from across the Capital District Council volunteered their time to honor and remember their fellow veterans this past holiday season.
In 2025, the rare simultaneous celebration of Christmas and Chanukah on Dec. 25 brought opportunities for JWV members to celebrate with the community. The season of mitzvot began Monday, Dec. 2. with two volunteers lending support to the national Trees for Troops loadout of donated Christmas Trees at Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa. Capital District Council Commander Rich Goldenberg and Schenectady Post 106 Senior Vice Commander Karl Auerbach volunteered to help load trees.
Volunteers from the Jewish War Veterans gather for a memorial prayer before placing stones at the grave sites of Jewish personnel buried at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. From left, Ron Tremper, Shawn Tabankin, Ephren Tabankin, Karl Auerbach, Col. Jason Lefton, Post 105 Commander Fred Altman, Andy Brachfield, Post 106 Commander Gene Altman, Jack Gold and William Jaffe. Photo by Rich Goldenberg.
The JWV council, representing Albany Post 105, Schenectady Post 106 and Saratoga Springs Post 36 then met Sunday, Dec 8, to place memorial stones on the Jewish headstones at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. Eleven volunteers gathered at the Jewish Veterans memorial plaque inside the national cemetery to say the Mourner’s Kaddish and then placed stones on the headstones of 207 Jewish veterans buried on the cemetery grounds.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It was a fitting way for our Jewish organization to remember our fallen during this holiday season in our own faith tradition,” explained Albany Post 105 Commander Fred Altman.
The JWV provided coordination with the national cemetery to ensure that Jewish personnel buried there would have their own unique remembrance to honor, remember and educate our volunteers about the importance of their service.
Ephren Tabankin, son of Albany Post 105 member Shawn Tabankin, places a memorial stone at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. This was the third consecutive year that JWV was able to conduct its remembrance during the holiday season.
Later in December, five JWV volunteers from Posts 105 and 106 gathered at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany for the return of Operation Jingle Bells. Jewish War Veterans visit patients and staff at the medical center on Christmas Eve. The effort, now ongoing for four decades, is meant to show JWV’s commitment to support veterans, especially those unable to be home with family for the holidays, according to Goldenberg.
“The VA Medical Center always welcomes the Jewish War Veterans,” said Dom Dominguez, the chief for the VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement. “Our inpatient veterans benefit from your visit very much, and we love to have you all visit our patients! Thank you for your continued service to our veterans.”
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Originally published at
The Jewish World
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© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
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© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios
© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios