Calling on the Jewish community to support Jews serving in the U.S. military

In December 2008 an active duty Air Force Jewish chaplain told me: “There are 30 rabbis on active duty right now — Army, Navy, and Air Force — and that includes mobilized reservists. We are spread too thin.”

When I told him about my proposed project (see backstory), he said: “Don’t limit your project to sending rabbis to lead services on the base.

“Get the local synagogues to invite the military personnel to their service (that way they can attend whatever service they like).  Have the families invite them into their homes.

“Ask restaurants to give a discount. Take them to a ball game, whatever. Really think outside the box here.”

And thus this site was born – to ask you, all the members of the American Jewish community, to support Jews in the military.  And if you’re wondering, this is NOT about whether the war is correct.

This is about hospitality to our Jewish brothers and sisters who serve in the U.S. military forces (Army, Navy – includes the Marines, Air Force, National Guard, Coast Guard) that protect our country. And, depending on where these military personnel are stationed, they may have no Jewish community of their own.

Learn about the Jewish Welfare Board’s Torah project.

To understand what it means to be  a Jew in the armed forces today, read the blog posts from Big Tobacco (pen name to protect his identity), who is pictured at the upper right corner of this page at an unnamed FOB (Forward Operating Base) in Iraq.

Jews in the military deserve the respect and support that we Jews show to anyone in the Jewish community who need and want to be a part of the greater Jewish community.

Here’s how you can help support Jews in the military.

Senator Joe Lieberman with Captain Thad David Ritch de Herrera 4/07

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