Beth El Temple will honor Jewish veterans in a multi-generational program on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m.

The West Hartford congregation has held the annual tribute since 2004, organized by Beth El’s Chai Society. In 2005, group leaders decided to recognize World War II veterans at a Friday-night service that fell on Veterans Day. Eighty veterans stood and were recognized during the service. The program was so successful, says Chai Society President Roz Rachlin, that the group decided to honor veterans from all wars and the Israel Defense Forces the following year, making the Veterans Day service an annual tradition. This year for the first time, the program will engage older students from the temple’s religious school.

“The Chai Society of Beth El is very much committed to engaging the generations and this program offers a unique opportunity for meaningful intergenerational engagement,” says Eliane Freund, event committee member and one of the two religious-school educators involved in the program.

Freund and Anita Levy, who teaches a seventh-grade Holocaust curriculum, were asked by Rachlin to design an experiential educational component for the commemoration. They did so with input from educational and program director, Rabbi Howard Rosenbaum.

Before the ceremony, congregant Abby Weiner, a Holocaust survivor and Korean War veteran, will share his personal story with the fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders. The students will then present a gift to the veterans as a demonstration of “hakarat hatov,” the Jewish value of publicly recognizing another’s good work.

All Jewish veterans are invited to attend and take part in the roll call. To register, contact Marcia Slotnick by Thursday, Nov. 6: (860) 236-2630, herbandmuriel@sbcglobal.net.

Beth El Temple is located at 2626 Albany Ave., West Hartford. For more information: (860) 233-9696, bethelwesthartford.org.