High Holidays in the Military

Spending the High Holidays in Iraq is becoming a regular occurrence these days. While the novelty of celebrating such an important Jewish holiday in an Arab land might have worn off, the level of support for those deployed there has only strengthened. A substantial force of reserve, active duty, and volunteer rabbis will be heading to the Sandbox in order to officiate services and meet the needs of our Jewish service members in harm’s way.

Looking back to last year, Captain Perl shares his tale of his Rosh Hashanah joy:

“I took a helicopter flight with a Sergeant from Camp Taji to Baghdad, about a ten minute ride. In Baghdad, we were met at the helipad by Rabbi Schranz, a Navy LT COL Chaplain.

“One of the congregants made an Ark for the Torah Handmade Ark, and we had candles Candlelighting, a Kiddush cup, Machzors, challah, apples, honey, what more could we ask for? After services Friday night, we made Kiddush and had some challah with honey, and then about 14 of us went to dinner together in the army mess hall.

“When the Rabbi said this would be a Rosh Hashanah service we would always remember, I knew he was right. Although we were not in imminent danger, we had Military Police guarding the Chapel during our services as a safety precaution. Right in the middle of services, we heard the loud booms of some Improvised Explosive Devices (road side bombs) going off in the distance. On the second day, we heard 15 big booms from some artillery rounds being shot at the bad guys. The Chapel shook with each artillery round that was fired – we just kept on going like it was thunder from a rain shower.

Read Captain Perl’s full story here.

This kind of experience is nothing new. U.S. service men and women have been serving in war during the holidays since there has been a U.S. military. The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles has an article you must read that tells the holiday stories of four service members in four different wars.

Ralph Goodman recited those words in a hillside tent in southeastern Belgium. Warren Zundell’s “shul” was a patch of no-man’s-land somewhere in North Korea. For Robert Cirkus, it was a jungle clearing in the bug-infested Central Highlands of Viet Nam. And for Lee Mish, it was Saddam Hussein’s former palace.

The four men have never met, but they share an uncommon bond. They represent four generations of Jewish servicemen for whom the High Holidays – and their signature Unetanah Tokef prayer – took on new meaning.

Read the full article here.

2 comments

  • Was told that Ch. Oxman will be in Balad over the Holidays. He’s a great Rabbi and Chaplain. Those in the area should check him out. He’s AF.

    Dee

    Jewish Prime Vendor

  • Irving L. SHORE, Capt. USAF (Ret)

    I’d like a list of all bases, both stateside and overseas, where I might be able to attend High Holiday Services this year (2007) in September.

    Thank you