Speaking at a Veterans Day event at Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott last year, Barry Lischinsky asked how many in attendance were veterans.

To the Beverly resident’s surprise, about 15 Jewish veterans stood up. He recognized one of the veterans from his time in the military. “The other 14 veterans I knew nothing of,” said the past national commander of the Jewish War Veterans.

This number of Jewish veterans in attendance made him question why there wasn’t a JWV post here. That gave him the idea that it might be time to reconstitute the local Jewish War Veterans Post 656 Marblehead-Swampscott, which was organized by local Jewish World War II veterans in 1952 but dissolved in 2013.

Lischinsky served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard from 1969 to 2004. He served for 14 years as a traditional National Guard officer and then went on active duty for 20. He rose to the rank of colonel. “It took me a while to figure out I liked it,” he joked.

He began his career as an enlisted combat field medic. After he graduated from the Massachusetts Military Academy in June 1974, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

Lischinsky belongs to JWV Post 220, based at Temple Ner Tamid in Peabody, where he was the commander from 2009 to 2013. He is also a past state commander. A native of Dorchester, he belongs to the Sephardic synagogue Congregation Tifereth Israel in Peabody and formerly to Congregation Sons of Israel, also in Peabody.

He recently joined Shirat Hayam.

Like other veteran service organizations, Post 656 was chartered during a surge in interest after World War II, according to Lischinsky. An estimated 550,000 Jews served in the U.S. military during the war. JWV National Commander Ira Novoselsky, who is a member of JWV Prince-Strauss/Groman Post 161, said that as Post 656’s members got older, moved away or died, the post was no longer viable.

Novoselsky said he helped close the post and most of the members transferred to the post in Peabody. The post was dissolved in August 2013, according to Lischinsky.

Across Massachusetts, there are 15 JWV Posts and one Auxiliary.

Still at issue is where Post 656 would meet.

Lischinsky said the JCC is the common denominator that would attract members from the shuls in the area. He said he has spoken with the JCC about reactivating the post there and is hoping to get in touch with some of the post’s former members.

Joining the revived post will help support all veterans and help combat antisemitism, he said.

“We have to pay attention to antisemitism. To me, it’s just another organization that shows the solidarity of our faith,” Lischinsky said.

“Jews have served in all conflicts and wars with honor and distinction,” Lischinsky said. Θ

Contact Barry Lischinsky at blischinsky7679@gmail.com.