Suicide prevention is a big deal for the Army. It needs to be. Many of us recognize the preventative contribution that our faith traditions offer in such circumstances, one of the many tools we may draw upon. As individuals, it is within our right to go to our chaplain, lay leader, or whatever representative of our faith tradition to seek that help. As leaders, we may suggest that service members turn to their faith tradition as appropriate for help. Of course, we can’t use this as an opportunity to proselytize or drive service members to individual traditions. Such cynical use of such a horrible thing would be unquestionably wrong.
Major General Douglas Carver undoubtedly meant well on 2 March 2009 when he declared the 8th of April a day of prayer and fasting.
Why April 8th? For Jews, it’s the 14th day of Nisan, which includes the tradition of the Fast of the Firstborn. In all my years of observing it, I’ve never actually fasted thanks to the siyum that takes place at shacharit. And it’s not just our tradition that seems at odds with the proclamation for the date: do not Christians mark the date as Holy Wednesday?
Given the proximity of the Chief of Army Chaplain’s fast and prayer day to two traditions’ holiest times of the year, is this a question of bad timing? Why not sooner? Why not later? Why did it have to come on the day that Jews are busily preparing for first night seder? Why does it have to come on a Christian holy day?
Some might argue that a bold proclamation like this, in a military where specific religions hold hegemony over the chaplaincy, provides certain chaplains an opportunity for witnessing or evangelism. I cannot speak to that. I can speak to the terrific imposition such a proclamation puts on our Army rabbis, who are not only answerable to halachah but also the Chief of Chaplains. How can a rabbinical chaplain carry out this duty, which his peers may happily embrace, and still meet the requirements of his faith? Does this not present a possible imposition on the individual faith tradition of our rabbis? A religious test, of sorts, on their duty?
Is this a question of bad timing? Or worse? It’s not without historical precedent, but one has to ask, is prayer and fasting the proclamation regarding suicide prevention and the stresses on the force really the best the Chief of Chaplains can do?
How about a resolution on finding common ways between various faith traditions to confront the challenges facing the Army, rather than such a poorly timed activity?
I ask these questions realizing that seldom (if ever) does such a proclamation enjoy retraction or modification.
I think it was just a coincidence, but a bad one at that. I don’t know if there is much to do, other than try to be exempted through the usual channels…
Further examination and materials forwarded from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (quoting the Associated Baptist Press itself) say this:
Essentially, a Baptist chaplain has used his ascendant position to arrogantly push a Baptist practice on a very diverse chaplaincy.
Coincidence or not, I am coming to believe “bad timing” is an understatement, given the importance of Wednesday night in our traditions. What it says is that we have a Chief of Chaplains utterly insensitive to his non-Baptist constituency.
The Army Chief of Chaplain’s inchoate proclamation is drawing fire in many quarters. One of the most articulate blogs I’ve seen thus far says this:
More here.
I think you guys need to get the bigger story here. Attached is a response to the Dallas Morning News blog, http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/04/top-army-chaplain-upsets-jews.html
“As the Sr Jewish Chaplain in the Armed Forces of the United States I totally disagree with the Author of this article. Apparently the writer is unfamiliar with the Jewish faith as Passover begins at sundown April 8th and is not celebrated the entire day. Another issue is that Passover Eve the Jewish faith commemorates Gods deliverance from bondage in Egypt over three thousand years ago by fasting which is known as “the fast of the 1st born” which was celebrated today till sundown. I commended Chaplain Carver for having chosen this day for it is providential to have occurred as Jews fast the world over. This began more than three thousand years ago. Chaplain Carver is an extremely sensitive individual towards everyones faith beliefs. He demonstrates this constantly not only in words but in deed. The Army and the United States is blessed to have such a caring and decent human being as its Chief of Chaplains. It is a blessing to serve under him.”
Chaplain (COL) Jacob Goldstein
I respect Rabbi Goldstein’s opinion immensely. Thank you for sharing the perspective.