National Museum of American Jewish Military History

10/26/2026

10/26/1918 at Grand-Pre, France - Hearing a wounded man in a shell hole some distance away calling for water, Sgt. Wm. Sawelson, upon his own initiative, left shelter and crawled through heavy machine gun fire to where the man lay, giving him what water he had in his canteen. He then went back to his own shell hole, obtained more water, and was returning to the wounded man when he was killed by a machine gun bullet.

Sawelson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

https://nmajmh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/hall-of-heroes/world-war-i/william-sawelson/

10/26/2026

43 years after Beirut terror attack killed 241 Americans, Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff recalls chaplains’ extraordinary response. Anniversary remembers fallen US service members while highlighting how chaplains worked together to tend to the wounded, bring comfort amid the devastation.

On the 43rd anniversary of the Beirut barracks terror attack that killed 241 Americans, a rabbi recalls how he and two Christian chaplains rushed to aid the wounded and comfort the survivors.

10/05/2026

Sad to learn of the passing of our friend Bernie Lubran last month. Bernie did so much to share the history of the Ritchie Boys of WWII including his support of the Ritchie History Museum. He gave this talk for us in 2020 - https://youtu.be/eX4S9cveh5Y?si=HNfyoDTG2We7Psb7

May his memory be a blessing.

https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/bernard-bernie-lubran/

09/25/2026

Happy Sukkot from the NMAJMH community! Sukkot has been celebrated by our Jewish service members for decades, and we hope the holiday brings health and joy.

Photo 1: Group photo "Succoth - 1944" at Camp Swift.
Photo 2: Rabbi Chana Timoner and soldiers in front of a sukkah at Fort Benning, Georgia holding up programs.
Photo 3: "Succah builders. Spanish-Portugese Synagogue, Colon, RP. 1944"
Photo 4: 30 September 1953, Jewish servicemen celebrate Sukkot, held in the temporarily constructed booth, of four walls and foliage top at Hialeah Compound, Pusan, Korea, Chaplain 1st Lt. Nathan Estersohn (center standing), Los Angeles, Calif.), officiated at the services. US Army photo by PFC James Kearney, Jr., Signal Photo Div. Korean Base Section.
Photo 5: "Succah at West Point, 1977. Cadets shown are Jeff Jacons and Ed Fox. Children are from West Point Jewish Sunday School." Lt. Col. Terry Bresnick served as a Jewish lay leader at West Point.

09/11/2026

L’Shana Tova from World War II

During World War II, V-Mail helped servicemembers overseas stay connected with family and friends at home including during the High Holidays.

Explore Rosh Hashanah greetings sent through the V-Mail system.

Read:

Updated September 11, 2026 To ease the burden on the postal system, V-mail was introduced during World War II for correspondence with service members stationed abroad. Stationery was photographed and transported on microfilm and then reproduced on small paper sheets at the destination. It was the pr...

09/10/2026

In September 1945, American Jewish soldiers gathered at the Kunming Airport in China for Rosh Hashanah services. Service members flew in from all over China to attend the services, and a major general addressed the congregation with a message of tolerance and wishes for a happy new year....

https://nmajmh.org/2026/09/rosh-hashanah-and-yom-kippur-correspondence-from-china-1945/

09/10/2026

As we approach the 25th anniversary of September 11, we pause to remember.

Twenty-five years ago, nearly 3,000 lives were lost in terrorist attacks.

This Flag of Honor hangs in the entrance hallway of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History. Printed upon it re the names of those who lost their lives that day.

On this 25th anniversary, we remember them, honor their memory, and reflect on a day that forever changed our nation.

08/12/2026

Great to be covered by Defense News last week. Come visit the building to see what else the museum has to offer! See how to visit at nmajmh.org

https://www.defensenews.com/video/2026/08/03/step-inside-the-museum-of-american-jewish-military-history/

Within Washington, D.C. hides a repository of military history in a museum slightly off the beaten path offering stories of valor, history and culture.

08/10/2026

Medal of Honor Monday: Army Sgt. William Shemin

Army Sgt. William Shemin, a rifleman, posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 2015 for extraordinary heroism during World War I combat operations in France.

08/07/2026

Holocaust survivor and WWII Battle of the Bulge veteran Colonel Frank Cohn spoke at the NMAJMH Jewish Heroes of the Revolution and the Ongoing Legacy of Religious Freedom program last month. Cohn died at 100 years old on July 4, 2026, and we are grateful to have had him as part of our museum community. Hear more of his story here https://nmajmh.org/2026/06/jewish-heroes-of-the-revolution-and-the-ongoing-legacy-of-religious-freedom/