Chaplain Deploys, Serves Jewish Personnel in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -The Chaplain’s office sent out a brief e-mail-a Rabbi was coming for the Jewish High Holidays.

While Chaplain (Captain) Avrohom Horovitz led services in Bagram for Rosh Hashanah and in Kandahar for Yom Kippur, his presence in Kabul between the holidays-and in the theater-was a boost to Jewish servicemen and women.

Kabul Army Education Center Counselor Sheila Dickerman said the Rabbi’s presence led to “a reconnection and rediscovery of my roots.” For Dickerman, originally from Honduras, Jewish life centered on the home; attending Jewish services in the Kabul Compound chapel was a special experience for her.

While Dickerman serves in theater as a government civilian, additional Jewish personnel serving in the Kabul area with non-governmental organizations and private businesses also joined the military for religious services.

Said Army Lt. Col. Dan Mishket, “The Chaplain’s arrival revived a small, dormant Jewish spirit in Kabul. His presence resulted in Jews from around the city-both military and civilian-coming together to celebrate the High Holidays, address spiritual needs and enjoy a common bond with others with similar beliefs.”

While in Kabul, Horovitz, Dickerman, Chaplain’s Assistant (Specialist) Deborah Harris, the author and her interpreter, took an impromptu visit to the Kabul Synagogue. The Synagogue, in downtown Kabul near the shopping district, is home to the last known Jews-both of them-in Afghanistan.

Zabolon Sementov, who was at home that day, is a businessman who left Afghanistan for Israel but later returned; his family still lives there. Yitzhak Levy, who was away the day we visited, also has family in Israel. The two men do not speak; according to Sementov, he cannot forgive Levy for converting to Islam under Taliban pressure. Sementov refused to convert, instead spending several years in prison for his defiance.

The Rabbi passed Sementov some Jewish mementoes-including the yarmulke (prayer cap) on his head-and together they poured over “The Israel Review of Arts and Letters,” which features a chapter on Jews in Afghanistan. In addition to Kabul, the cities of Herat, Balkh, Meymaneh and Mazar e-Sharif, among others, once had Jewish populations. Sementov brought fruit out for his visitors and then offered a tour of the synagogue and its grounds.

“Afghan Jews in America are providing the money to refurbish the synagogue,” said Horovitz. While there is much work yet to be done, the two sanctuaries sport fresh paint and the grounds are in generally good repair. Jewish artifacts abound, from a mezuzah (sacred scroll) affixed to a doorpost, to latticework on the windows and iron railings around the balconies all in the shape of Jewish stars.

Horovitz also accompanied Ministry of Defense and Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan officials, Soldiers and guests on a day-trip to Gardez for the Afghan National Army’s second Regional Command Opening. The four ANA Regional Commands (the others are in Kandahar, Mazar e-Sharif and Herat) have extended the authority of the national government throughout Afghanistan.

“Seeing how much the U.S. military and the other many coalition forces are bringing hope, democracy, freedom and happiness to the Afghan people who suffered so much under the Taliban,” has made his trip significant, said Horovitz.

Horovitz, chaplain for the 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, was born in the United Kingdom and moved to Jerusalem when he was 10 years old. He served in Brooklyn, N.Y. and in Miami as a Rabbi and teacher. He joined the Army in 1997, serving at Fort Stewart, Ga., and Fort Bragg, N.C., and deploying to Egypt in 1999; Afghanistan and Uzbekistan in 2002; and Kuwait and Iraq in 2003.

NOTE: Yitzhak Levy passed away late this month (January 2005)