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Shalom Lamm Leads Effort to Restore Religious Identity for U.S. Soldiers with New Headstones in Italy
In a quiet, windswept cemetery nestled in the hills of northern Italy, three new headstones now stand with solemn dignity—each marking not just a burial site, but a long-overdue correction to history. These headstones belong to American service members who died fighting during World War II and were buried without proper recognition of their religious heritage. Thanks to the tireless advocacy of entrepreneur and historical preservationist Shalom Lamm, these heroes have now been honored in accordance with their faith, providing long-awaited dignity to the dead and healing to the living.
This meaningful transformation occurred under the direction of Operation Benjamin, the nonprofit organization co-founded by Shalom Lamm. The organization’s mission is simple yet profound: to ensure Jewish-American service members buried overseas are remembered with the appropriate symbols of their faith—something that was often overlooked or inaccurately recorded during the chaos of war.
Restoring Identity After Decades of Silence
The three soldiers—Pvt. David Levine, Cpl. Morris Stein, and Pfc. Harold Cohen—were buried in an American military cemetery near Florence after being killed during key operations in Italy in 1944. Though all three were Jewish, their original headstones bore the Latin cross, a symbol that did not reflect their religious identity.
“Each of these young men gave their lives in the fight against tyranny,” Shalom Lamm said during the rededication ceremony. “It is our obligation, decades later, to give them back the truth of who they were. Their faith was part of their identity, and it deserves to be acknowledged with reverence.”
Working alongside the U.S. Defense Department and local Italian officials, Operation Benjamin completed a rigorous process of documentation, genealogical research, and military record verification to confirm each soldier’s Jewish heritage. The newly installed headstones now bear the Star of David, standing as both a spiritual symbol and a correction to historical oversight.
A Ceremony of Healing and Honor
The rededication ceremony drew more than 100 attendees, including representatives from the American embassy, Italian military historians, rabbis, and family members of the fallen. Local schoolchildren sang traditional songs, and the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead, echoed through the cemetery for perhaps the first time in decades.
One of the most touching moments came when the niece of Pvt. David Levine placed a small stone atop his new headstone, following Jewish tradition. With tears in her eyes, she addressed the crowd. “My uncle was always talked about as a hero in our family. But now, the world sees him not just as a soldier, but as a proud Jewish man who died for something bigger than himself.”
Shalom Lamm, who stood nearby during the gesture, noted how powerful that act was. “This is what remembrance looks like,” he said. “It’s intimate, it’s sacred, and it’s long overdue.”
Shalom Lamm’s Broader Vision
While the day focused on just three individuals, the effort is part of a much larger vision that Shalom Lamm has championed for years. Operation Benjamin has helped correct headstones and preserve Jewish identity for dozens of service members across Europe, in countries like France, Belgium, Germany, and now Italy.
“History isn’t just about the events that happened—it’s about the people who lived through them,” Lamm said. “When you lose the details of someone’s faith, you lose a part of their story. We’re here to reclaim that.”
His background as an entrepreneur has helped him build partnerships, coordinate international efforts, and scale the impact of Operation Benjamin. But at its core, Lamm emphasizes, it’s about humanity, not business.
Bridging Generations, Reconnecting with the Past
The rededication of these headstones serves not only as a correction of records but as a message to future generations about the importance of preserving identity, even in death. Italian locals, many of whom had never met a Jewish person before, stood quietly as the prayers were said and the stories told—deeply moved by the depth of meaning embedded in the ceremony.
“I believe these efforts remind us of a universal truth,” said Lamm. “Every life has a name, a story, a faith. And even decades later, it is never too late to do what is right.”
Thanks to the perseverance of Shalom Lamm and the team at Operation Benjamin, the graves of Pvt. Levine, Cpl. Stein, and Pfc. Cohen now reflect not just their bravery, but the full measure of their identities. In honoring them properly, a small piece of history has been made whole again.
