A Kindness that Can't Be Repaid
An Interview with Shalom Lamm from Operation Benjamin
And now for something a little bit different…
On this episode, we are thrilled to welcome our first guest to edJEWcation, when ChayaLeah and Jay trade in the Rabbi for the Chief Historian of Operation Benjamin, Shalom Lamm.
Operation Benjamin is an organization that ensures Jewish soldiers who were killed in World Wars One and Two but improperly buried are given the Jewish burial they deserve. This may seem easy, but as you will discover, it is anything but.
You may remember that a few episodes ago, we discussed this article from the NY Post about the discovery of the body and reburial of World War 2 soldier Nathan Baskind.
After reading that article, we researched Operation Benjamin, were bowled over by their work, and decided to invite Shalom onto the show to discuss the efforts to repatriate Lt. Baskind and Operation Benjamin overall.
Among other topics, we discuss:
Shalom’s background and how he transitioned from the business world to military history
The origins of Project Benjamin
The process they use to go about identifying Jewish soldiers
The complexities they face in this process
Connecting with families on this painful topic
What made the Nathan Baskind case a particularly challenging and rewarding one
It’s important to note that Operation Benjamin never asks the soldiers’ descendants for money while at the same time assisting them with international travel for the rededication ceremony, as needed. They are a 501(C)3 charity 100% funded by donors. So, if you are interested in donating, their donations page can be found here: Donation Page.
Absolutely incredible interview! It's fascinating both for the deeply personal stories and learning about the practice of history and its practical applications! Thank you!