NJ Department of the Jewish War Veterans Awards Grants to the Next Generation

Jun 27, 2025 by Susan Rosenbluth

By Susan L. Rosenbluth

Last month, the Jewish War Veterans’ New Jersey Department awarded its Leo A. Seigel-Dr. Philip Shapiro Educational Grants to three Jewish high school seniors, all of them grandchildren of U.S. armed forces servicemen who are or were members of the JWV.

The NJ Department’s third-place award, in the amount of $1,000, was presented to Ryan Spencer of Freehold, who will be attending Rowan College in the fall. The second-place winner, the recipient of a $1500 grant, was Isaac Halpern of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, who will be pre-med at Brandeis University. Naomi Rosenbluth, a graduate of the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston and a resident of Springfield, was the grand prize winner of a $2,000 grant. She, too, will be attending Brandeis in the fall.

The JWV’s New Jersey Department held its banquet and program at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center in Toms River. The three winners, judged on their high school records and accomplishments in addition to written essays, have now been entered as contestants for grants that will be awarded by the national Jewish War Veterans at their convention in Washington, D.C., in August.

From left: Ryan Spencer, Naomi Rosenbluth, Commander Selina Kanowitz, National JWV Vice-Commander Gary Ginsburg, Bob Jacobs, and Isaac Halpern

“As the premier voice for Jewish uniformed service members and veterans in the United States, the Jewish War Veterans takes as its mission to defend the rights and benefits of all service members and veterans, combat antisemitism in all its forms, and support the State of Israel,” said the current Commander of the JWV’s N.J. Department Selina Kanowitz. “We carry on an extensive program committed to upholding American democratic traditions and fighting bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination of all kinds.”

Bob Jacobs, Chairman of the JWV Vietnam Veterans Committee, agreed. “We talk to all our Federal legislators and make sure they are aware of our organization’s position on those issues of vital concern to veterans. We support more funding for our veterans hospitals, better clinics, legislation that improves the lives of all veterans and their families, and we interface with all our State Assembly and Senate legislators, to improve NJ Veteran issues and the Veteran Homes.”

Appreciation

In her acceptance speech, Miss Rosenbluth, who had been nominated for the grant by her grandfather, Charles Aptowitzer of Hillside and West Orange, NJ, recognized the generational gap between the grant recipients and the veterans attending the banquet. “But I know it is your generation that laid the foundation for my generation’s success,” she said.

She explained that in the course of applying for the grant, she learned about some of the JWV’s most inspiring accomplishments, including organizing care packages and delivering kosher food to Jewish troops. This, she said, has special meaning to her in light of her first cousin’s recent commissioning into the United States Air Force. “It means so much to my family and me to know that he will be supported by the JWV community,” she said.

According to Mr. Jacobs, it was Miss Rosenbluth’s passion for helping others, in addition to her academic success, that impressed the judges of this year’s competition. For example, after learning sign language, she began Kushner’s first American Sign Language Club in order to raise awareness and funds for Yachad, an organization that helps the Jewish deaf community through the Orthodox Union. She also volunteered for The Friendship Circle’s programs for special-needs children and teens. An ardent biology student, she was involved in biomedical research, including projects using Artificial Intelligence to detect allergens, develop genetic tests for chemotherapy, and 3D printing organs. Earlier this year, she was part of a Kushner team that presented at the joint meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and the World Allergy Organization in San Diego.

Military History and Chesed

The JWV is the oldest active veterans’ organization in the United States. Founded in 1896 by 63 Jewish Civil War veterans as a direct response to the libel that Jews had not served in the American military, it was originally known as the Hebrew Union Veterans. Over the years, the organization has publicized the fact that Jews have served in the American armed forces in every conflict since the nation’s founding, including the War of Independence.

Miss Rosenbluth said, for her, the group’s greatest attribute is “the value you place on doing chesed, acts of kindness.”

“As my parents, my school, and my synagogue have repeatedly told me, the best way to fight the darkness of antisemitism is to create light, by being kind to others,” she said. “Your organization exists to help its members and to help others in the community, something that I admire greatly. I hope to use the educational grant you have awarded me to carry that torch and continue your good work.”