Jewish War Veterans look for recruits

Friday, April 12, 2002 | 2:25 a.m.

Members of Post 711 can be reached at 893-9842.

WEEKEND EDITION

Las Vegas' oldest post of the Jewish War Veterans is seeking new members.

The Kandel-Seigenberg Tarr Post 711 formed in Las Vegas more than 50 years ago.

In recent years veterans and active service members of Jewish faith have been moving to Southern Nevada (some have retired to the area) and many don't know that there is a Jewish War Veterans organization, said group member Lee Weisbrod, who served in the Navy during World War II.

"We want to get the word out," Weisbrod said.

The Jewish War Veterans is a national veterans-service organization that was organized in 1896 by Jewish veterans of the Civil War, in response to allegations that Jews did not serve in the war between the states.

In 1947 Post 711 was formed in Las Vegas. Today there are about 500 members of the the Southern Nevada Council Jewish War Veterans, which includes Post 711, Post 21, Post 64 and Post 65, Irving Finver, quartermaster of Post 711, said.

"We have indigent funds available," Finver said. "We help people who are homeless, or about to be evicted because they don't have the rent (money) or can't pay the gas bill or the electric bill.

"We lobby members of Congress to support programs for the veterans. They keep trying to cut our budget down."

The group has raised funds to purchase vans that transport patients to the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic on Vegas Drive and the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital, as well as assist patients. Members also volunteer at the clinic, where Post 711 has its office.

The group normally meets the third Sunday of each month at Bourbon Street hotel. This month it will meet April 21 at Ellis Island Casino.

Finver, who is also judge advocate with the Department of Arizona-Nevada Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., has been a member of the national organization for 56 years. He is also active in Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion.

"We are the oldest active veteran organization in the United States," Finver said, referring to Jewish War Veterans.

"Just like any organization, the World War II veterans are dying off. The younger veterans are slow to join. Who we're really trying to reach are the Korean and Vietnam veterans."

Post 711 includes members in eastern Las Vegas, but members don't have to be a resident in the area to join, Finver said.