Since the founding of the United States, Jewish Americans have stepped forward to defend the nation, answering the call to service in every major conflict. Long before full civic inclusion was guaranteed in many parts of the world, Jewish patriots fought for American liberty, establishing a legacy of valor, sacrifice, and leadership.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) honors this legacy, celebrating the service members who have protected democratic freedoms at home and abroad.
Early Republic & The Revolutionary War
Jewish participation in American defense predates the Constitution. During the American Revolution, an estimated 160 Jewish soldiers served in the Continental Army and local militias.
- Haym Salomon: A Polish-born Jewish immigrant in Philadelphia, Salomon served as a primary financier of the American Revolution, extending interest-free loans to the Continental Congress and personal funds to officers like James Madison and Don Francisco Rendón.
- Colonel David S. Franks: Served as an aide-de-camp to General Benedict Arnold (prior to Arnold’s treason) and was later diplomatic courier for Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
- Francis Salvador: Known as the “Jewish Paul Revere,” Salvador was the first Jewish person elected to a colonial legislature (South Carolina) and the first Jewish soldier killed in the Revolutionary War (1776).
Civil War: A Nation Divided
During the American Civil War, more than 10,000 Jewish Americans served in both Union and Confederate ranks, with the vast majority fighting to preserve the Union.
- Medal of Honor Recipients: Seven Jewish Union soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry, including Leopold Karpeles (57th Massachusetts Infantry) for holding the colors under heavy fire at the Battle of the Wilderness.
- Military Chaplaincy: In 1862, following advocacy by Jewish leaders, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation allowing non-Christian chaplains to serve in the U.S. military. Rabbi Jacob Frankel became the first official Jewish army chaplain.
World Wars: Mobilization & Liberating Europe
World War I
Over 225,000 Jewish Americans, roughly 5% of the total U.S. military force, served in World War I. Among them was Sergeant Benjamin Kaufman, who earned the Medal of Honor for single-handedly neutralizing an enemy machine-gun position despite being severely wounded.
World War II
More than 550,000 Jewish men and women served in World War II, fighting a dual battle: defending American democracy and defeating Nazi fascism.
- 22,000+ Decorations: Jewish service members earned thousands of decorations, including 2 Medals of Honor, 157 Distinguished Service Crosses, and over 1,600 Silver Stars.
- The Ritchie Boys: Hundreds of German-speaking Jewish refugees who fled Nazi persecution enlisted in the U.S. Army and were trained in intelligence at Camp Ritchie, Maryland. Their linguistic and cultural knowledge proved vital for field intelligence during the Allied advance in Europe.
- Liberation of Camps: Jewish American soldiers were among the first troops to enter concentration camps such as Buchenwald and Dachau, serving as translators, medical aid providers, and witnesses to history.
Cold War, Modern Conflicts & Valor Recognized
Jewish Americans have continued to serve across all branches—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Some Modern Examples:
A Holocaust survivor who enlisted in the U.S. Army, Rubin single-handedly defended a hill for 24 hours to cover his unit’s retreat. Later, as a POW, he risked his life nightly to steal food and provide medical care for fellow prisoners. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2005.
Lowest-ranking Air Force member to receive the Medal of Honor. Severely wounded by a mortar shell aboard an AC-47 gunship, Levitow threw himself onto a burning flare and jettisoned it from the aircraft seconds before ignition, saving his crew.
Congress mandated a review of military records to ensure Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans who had been overlooked due to historic bias received appropriate valor awards, resulting in upgraded Medals of Honor.
Jewish Medal of Honor Legacy
To date, 17 Jewish American service members have been awarded the Medal of Honor, which is our nation’s highest military decoration for valor.
Educational Resources & Community Engagement
JCRC-NY and our partners at the UJA Federation of NY work alongside community leaders, veterans’ organizations, and educational institutions to preserve and share the history of Jewish American military service.
- Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV): Founded in 1896, the oldest continuously operating veterans organization in America.
- Local Commemorations: JCRC-NY and the UJA Federation of NY participate in annual Veterans Day observances in NY.