Jewish Soldier in Afghanistan learns true meaning of Shabbat

From the Jewish Journal:

It’s 5:45 and the alarm sounds. Another day at Bagram Airfield for me. Another day in Afghanistan and I somehow manage to sit up, put on my fatigues and walk over to the gym, 100 yards from my 10-by-10-foot living space.

Around 0700, I grab a quick shower, and prepare for my morning update meeting. Now I am aware of what I have on schedule for the next 14 to 15 hours, and begin to focus on the myriad of tasks, projects, ideas, problems and everything information technology related that affects the 62,000 people in Regional Command East.

Days seem to drag on and bleed into each other. Meals are conveniently located downstairs, which makes me completely oblivious to the rain, snow or sunlight.

This is the life of the Information Systems Manager for all forces in Eastern Afghan­istan. Six days a week, the same thing. But Friday evening is one bright spot: a walk down the street for Shabbat services.
It gets me outside the inner headquarters compound, away from the busy operations center, away from any computer, and allows to me to get my mind off matters at hand.

When my wife, Ramit, was stationed here earlier in my tour, it made Shabbat extra special. Even in the middle of a combat zone, we were able to celebrate a break from the mundane grind of our daily lives.

Full article here: www.jewishjournal.org