The Marines’ Rabbi (updated)

Haaretz has an new article on Rabbi Irv Elson (LCdr, USN). While it is poorly labeled, “It’s hard to get kosher food in the U.S. Marines” it really focuses on what an amazing blessing this man is to the Marines he serves.

I’ve corresponded with Rabbi Elson before, but have yet to have the honor of actually meeting him. With the way he gets around the Marine Corps, I’m sure it is only a matter of time. I highly encourage you to read the full article, but here are some excerpts that should explain why I respect him so much:

[Rabbi Elson] tried to persuade the rabbinical students to join the Marines after their ordination. He believes that “every young Jewish man and woman ordained to be rabbis should aspire to serve in the U.S. Marines.”

“Believe me, the challenge to serve in the armed forces in a spiritual capacity, administering to the religious needs of Jewish soldiers, is greater and much more fascinating than the role of a rabbi in a synagogue,” he says.

Wow, that’s quite a statement! I’m not sure many rabbinical schools would agree with him, but you have to admire his complete dedication to his Marines. If Chesty Puller was Jewish, Rabbi Elson would be his reincarnate.

Rabbi Elson doesn’t shy away from the action either. He was attached to a Marine artillery brigade that was part of the initial push into Iraq.

“I decided to enlist as a rabbi to the army instead of looking for a synagogue, because in the army, religion is devoid of politics,” he says. “Among the Jewish soldiers, there is no distinction between Reform, Conservative and Orthodox. I never ask a soldier which stream he belongs to. Every Jew gets equal treatment in the army.”

I couldn’t agree with him more on this point. When you are putting your life on the line for others (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or anyone), it seems so petty to argue with a fellow Jew over what movement is real Judaism. That’s something Rabbi Elson’s civilian counterparts could learn a lot from.

Read the full article HERE. No really, go read it!

UPDATE: As I had mentioned before, the Haaretz article seems to have misrepresented Rabbi Elson a bit. Arutz Sheva reports that there is not a kosher food shortage for deployed troops:

Commander Elson told Kosher Today that the only shortage he could remember was short-lived during the initial phases of Operation Freedom. He charged Ha’aretz with grossly misrepresenting the facts, including his rank. “Most soldiers eat in mess halls and easily put together a kosher meal. But for those who are in the arena, like in Fallujah, kosher rations are available,” Elson said. He repeated his praise for the defense establishment for “their sensitivity in meeting the needs of Jewish servicemen.”

I should also mention that there is another great article about Rabbi Elson on The Jewish Week entitled Rabbi Of The Sunni Triangle