Our
Story
Our WHY
American Jews can, must, and have always been leaders in the defense of our nation since the Revolutionary War. Today’s Jewish cadets and midshipmen need a community that honors both faith and duty. JWW delivers.
JWW isn’t just an event—it’s a national network and a pipeline for Jewish leadership in uniform.
History
From the Revolutionary War onward, American Jews have viewed military service as an obligation to one of the only nations in the world outside of Israel that offers us the opportunity not only for religious freedom, but for full citizenship equal to that of citizens of the country’s majority faith. Jewish servicemembers have repaid America’s promise of religious freedom and equal citizenship.
When just 150,000 Jews lived in America, 7% fought in the Civil War; when our community numbered four million, 13% served in World War II (including 300+ chaplains). Today, in an all-volunteer force, roughly 10,000 American Jews serve on active duty.
JWW Origins
Founded in fall 2000 at West Point by Dan Helmer (USMA ’03), JWW began as a celebration of Jewish life in the Long Gray Line—from improvised Shabbat services in a chemistry lab to the 1984 dedication of the Jewish Chapel and the 1,000th Jewish graduation in 2019. Originally exclusive to West Point, JWW expanded to include midshipmen from the Naval and Air Force Academies and, more recently, Jewish students from Texas A&M, Norwich, the Citadel, the Merchant Marine Academy, Harvard, Yale, and ROTC programs nationwide.
JWW Today
In 2024, JWW at West Point brought together 112 Jewish cadets and midshipmen—the largest known gathering of its kind. For many, it was their first opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with so many Jewish peers in uniform. That weekend proved that both the demand for and the power of this community experience were only getting stronger.
​
Yet logistics and funding still hinder many students from joining. JWW exists to remove those barriers—centralizing planning, securing resources, and underwriting travel—so every Jewish cadet, midshipman, and ROTC student can carry forward this proud legacy of service.