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VISION
The Antisemitism Crisis
The urgency of this work cannot be overstated. In 2024, the Anti-Defamation League documented 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the United States—a 5% increase from 8,873 incidents in 2023, a 344% increase over five years, and a staggering 893% increase over the past decade. Jewish military families face unique vulnerability in this climate. While serving their country with pride, they often find themselves in geographic areas with limited Jewish infrastructure and must navigate both external antisemitism and the internal accusation of dual loyalty.
Need
Jewish military families serve the United States with distinction, yet many do so without consistent access to synagogue life, Jewish education, peer community, or meaningful family-centered Jewish engagement. Frequent relocations, changing duty stations, and geographic isolation can interrupt the continuity of Jewish life at precisely the stage when children and teens most need grounding, belonging, and a strong
sense of identity.
Background
Jewish Americans have served in the United States armed forces dating back to before the colonial era. Jewish military personnel have served in all branches of the armed forces and in every major armed conflict to which the United States has been involved. Over 550,000 Jews served in the United States military during World War II. This represented over four percent of the military.
Current Population
The United States military consists of 2.86 million people worldwide. Similar to the general public, the Jewish population is approximately 2%. This would represent an estimated 57,000 Jews in the military. There are at least 10,000 Jewish dependents ages 12-18.
Opportunity - Cultivate Future Leaders
B'nai Bitachon was created to meet this need with a bold, timely, and highly relevant response. Designed for Jewish military families, including B'nai
mitzvah-aged youth, teens, siblings, and parents, the program offers a portable model of Jewish engagement that travels with families wherever military
life takes them. Rather than depending on a single physical institution, B'nai Bitachon creates an ongoing hybrid community that combines relationship-
based virtual learning with high-impact in-person experiences, family participation, Hebrew immersion, service learning, and peer connection.
Ner Tamid Scholars we look to from past, present and future to honour in this program
Honoring Frank Cohn z"l
Colonel Frank Cohn (1925–2024) was born in Breslau, Germany, and escaped Nazi persecution with his family in 1938 after Kristallnacht. Saved as a Jewish refugee, he returned to Europe in 1943 as a U.S. Army intelligence soldier, helping liberate the continent from the Nazi regime that had driven him from his homeland.
His remarkable journey from survivor to liberator shaped a lifetime of service, leadership, and dedication to preserving the memory of the Holocaust. Throughout his distinguished military career and retirement, he remained deeply committed to the Jewish community, Holocaust education, and ensuring future generations never forgot the lessons of history.
Honoring Sarah Milgrim z"l
Sarah was raised in Prairie Village Kansas and received her Bachelor’s from University of Kansas and was pursuing a Master’s Degree from American University inInternational Affairs. She celebrated her bat mitzvah in Jerusalem which lit a life passion for Jewish culture and Israel and led to being a student leader and staff
member at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.
On May 21, 2025, Sarah and her colleague and partner, Yaron Lischinsky were murdered outside the Capital Jewish Museum in D.C. Bnai Bitachon Scholars will honor Sarah’s memory and keep her
passion for democracyand peace burning brightly.
