Home of Jewish War Veterans Online Post 77
Aish.com has an interesting excerpt on their website from Shaindy Perl’s Loyal Soldier. The book is about Army Captain Hank (Zvi) Webb’s experience in Vietnam, and how he “began serving his true Commander-in-Chief”. From the Aish article: Generally, the men on base were given the day off on Sunday. They would go out to a nearby beach, grill hamburgers and […]
Read moreBy LCDR Robert Gersh I am a wandering Jew. It is an apt title for me, considering my childhood and my present life. Growing up in my military family, we often likened ourselves to the hearty houseplant that my mother liked to grow in pots hanging around the house. Since my father was a career Air Force officer, my family […]
Read moreThis week’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh, deals with G-d giving specific instsructions on how the High Priest’s clothing is to be made. Given the nature and criticality of this work, God wanted the clothing to be made by: “…the wise-hearted people whom I have invested with… wisdom.” (Exodus 28:3) Wisdom is a gift from Hashem and a privilege. To those of […]
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Admit it, we’ve all been there: Your (non-Jewish) chaplain is offering the invocation at some event or ceremony and he or she is nearing the end of their prayer. You’ve been inspired (or are at least content) up to this point, but you start getting this uneasy feeling in your stomach. Is he going to finish with, “in Jesus’s name […]
Read moreFor those among us who enjoy a good read on historical, military or leadership issues, visit vbm-torah.org/archive/halak66/13halak.htm to read a facinating discussion based on the Rambam’s position on “The Morality of War.” A well written paper by Rav Chaim Navon covering such fascinating topics as “injury to innocent citizens,” “showing mercy to the enemy,” and “changes in wartime practices over […]
Read moreSome of these stories are a little dated, but I’ve accumulated a few articles on the activities of Rabbis and Jewish Chaplains in the operating forces. Here’s a quick round-up: Rabbinical Student Leads Services Overseas Army’s First Female Rabbi Celebrates Passover with Victory Troops Rabbi Joshua Narrowe revives Jewish Life at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Air Force commissions first female […]
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Temple Israel of Akron, Ohio will be generously donating one of their Torah scrolls for use aboard the USS Eisenhower. The Torah being donated by Temple Israel was first offered to the U.S. Navy about three years ago, when a national call went out for a Torah for the chapel aboard the USS Reagan. But another synagogue answered the call […]
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