Editor’s Note:  I hope this starts a trend.  Maj. (Ret) Edith Freyer sent me the following, complete with photos, of Purim festivities at Fort Hood.  In spite of a recent misunderstanding broadcast by someone new to the Fort Hood Jewish community, this article demonstrates that the on-post community is a welcoming bunch.  Other installation lay leaders and chaplains are encouraged to submit write-ups of their own communities for Jews in Green!

The West Fort Jewish Chapel celebrated Purim on Monday, March 9, 2009.  Forty nine members and friends of the Jewish Military Community enjoyed food, drink and the traditional reading of The Book of Esther [Megillah].

Purim, Hebrew for “lots,” is a festival that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of ancient Persia from Haman’s plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. According to the story, Haman cast lots to determine the day upon which to exterminate the Jews.

Purim is characterized by public recitation of the Book of Esther, giving mutual gifts of food and drink, giving charity to the poor, and a celebratory meal. Other customs include drinking wine, wearing of masks and costumes, and public celebration.

Jewish exiles from the Kingdom of Judah who had been living in the Babylonian captivity (6th Century BCE) found themselves under Persian rule after Babylonia was conquered by the Persian Empire. According to the Book of Esther, Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus, planned to kill the Jews, but his plans were foiled by Esther, the queen.

Mordecai, a palace official and cousin and foster parent of Esther, subsequently replaced Haman. The Jews were delivered from being the victims of an evil decree against them and were instead allowed by the King to destroy their enemies, and the day after the battle was designated as a day of feasting and rejoicing.

With Pesach looming, I reprint this warning received by email:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Special/Petition/

To: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart

Missionary Haggadahs Look Jewish
by IsraelNN Staff

A Jewish outreach organization has called on mainstream booksellers, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, to remove a Christian missionary version of the traditional Passover Hagaddah from the Judaism sections of online and conventional bookstores.

Rabbi Tovia Singer, director of Outreach Judaism, warned, “Despite the innocent-sounding title ‘Passover Family Pack: Everything You Need to Enjoy a Passover Seder Dinner,’ the guide quickly departs from the traditional holiday message once it is opened.”

[March 18 Update: Barnes & Noble has agreed to categorize the guide under “Christianity.]

Jewish families seeking to celebrate the ancient exodus of the Jewish People from Egyptian slavery find once they open the package that they are encouraged to express their faith in the Christian deity, “Yeshua the Messiah.”

“Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, WalMart Books and other retailers are trusted names in the book industry,” Singer said. “As such, they have a special responsibility to accurately label such material under a Christian category rather group it together with legitimate Jewish material,” he added.

“The ‘Passover Kit’ is an insidious tool Christian organizations use to convert Jewish people,” declared Singer, who also urged buyers to lobby booksellers’ corporate offices to remove the publication from Judaism publications lists.

Outreach Judaism urges all denominations of Judaism - Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, and Orthodox - and people of all faiths to sign an online petition to pressure booksellers to exercise responsibility to the public and remove the missionary Hagaddah from Judaism sections.

The publisher of the missionary Passover guide, Messianic Jewish Resources, is associated with works such as The Jewish New Testament, The Messianic Jewish Manifesto, and other similar books. Singer said that such books are “an assault to the Jewish faith” and placing them in the Jewish section of their walk-in and on-line book stores is tantamount to “consumer fraud.”

Singer noted that missionary publishers often intentionally try to mislead the book-buying public by giving their works Jewish-sounding titles.  “It’s ironic that mainstream organizations who are seeking to undermine the Jewish faith are able to pass themselves off as legitimate Jewish groups, he commented. “The unsuspecting Jewish families who purchase this “Haggadah” are undoubtedly stunned by a not-so-familiar Passover story.”

Singer, who has released for free internet download a 24-hour lecture series on Judaism’s Response to Christian Missionaries, called on people who have already purchased the Haggadah to return the volume at the point of sale.

Action items from Outreach Judaism: Sign the online petition Send emails to the following bookstore chains: Barnes and Noble, and Wal-Mart (click and follow the customer service links). For Amazon, go to http://www.amazon.com, click on “help” in upper right corner of page. Click on yellow “Contact us” tab in right column. Then click “Skip sign in” at bottom of box. Hear Rabbi Tovia Singer’s Radio show
Comment on this story

Alisha Margulies cares about the troops, and her concern pours forth like a freshly brewed cup of java.

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Alisha has a friend or two in the 56th Brigade, now deployed to Iraq.  Her father, Michael, was in the Air Force, and her brother-in-law (SGT Kresge) is also a member of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.  Alisha is also motivated by her Jewish faith to do mitzvot, meaning literally “commandments” but colloquially “good deeds.”

Given her connection to the service and her employment at Starbucks as a barrista, Alisha had a great idea as to how she could support the troops. She went to management of Starbucks store 10210 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and asked if she might put up a sign asking for coffee donations.  Her management keenly approved, and the customers in Lancaster overwhelmed her with their generosity.

An enormous selection was donated by customers and Alisha herself, including a seasonal Christmas blend (which is by all accounts good year-round), and
many other “fancy-shmancy” bean varieties that will help dispell the morning grumpies that Infantry Soldiers in particular are well-known for.

Her brother-in-law, SGT Brian Kresge, will be shipping the coffee Alisha collected to members of the 2/112th SBCT at Forward Operating Base Liberty in Iraq.

Asked if his unit would accept delivery of this coffee, CPT Paolo Sica of C Co, 2/112th SBCT responded (in all capitals) “DO YOU EVEN HAVE TO ASK!?!?!?”

Given the considerable dollar value of the Starbucks coffee Alisha has diligently gathered, one might think she’s done.  She is still collecting coffee as well as other requested various and sundries.

Though she’s not fully aware what a boon good coffee represents as a force multiplier, Alisha knows that her efforts will result in a slightly extravagant taste of home for more than a few Stryker Soldiers.

Alisha Margulies epitomizes the kind of individual support that Soldiers so deeply appreciate.  Members of the 2/112th SBCT will be presenting her with a framed certificate of recognition for her efforts.

This is the subject of an email I got after Shabbat last night.  I was so impressed with the email that I asked the writer of the email – Shira Telushkin – for permission to reprint it at http://www.OperationSupportJewsintheMilitary.com/blog in the hope that people will help fulfill her request.  I’m posting her request here too. (The boldface is mine.)

My name is Shira Telushkin and I am a senior at SAR High School, a coed Orthodox day school in Riverdale, NY. This upcoming Shavuot several friends and I are looking for a way to give back to the Jewish community.

All of us spend nearly five periods a day in the top Talmud and Tanakh/Bible classes at SAR, engage in serious additional learning, and have extensive public speaking experience. I myself identify as non-denominational, and have been very active in teaching and learning throughout the full spectrum of Jewish knowledge and/or involvement.

We would like to spend this Shavuot learning with and helping create Torah-learning options for Jews serving in the military if possible. Having grown up inside a New York Jewish bubble, none of use has ever had serious exposure to the U.S. Army. There seems nothing more significant than showing our support by going and leading discussion groups, giving shiurs, presenting texts, or anything else people would be interested in. We would create a full program for the holiday in accord with interest and time availability.

Having little contacts in the military world, we have no clear way to find information about Jewish life. Which army bases have Jewish soldiers? Which bases would actually be interested in such a program? How do we contact people? Is this idea even feasible? Where would we be most helpful?

We are more than willing to travel to wherever we could be needed. All of us are knowledgeable and vibrant students eager to show our support for our brothers and sisters in uniform however we can—and what we can do is learn.

If you could be of help in any way at all regarding this matter, we would be so appreciative.

In response to a question I then emailed her, she added:

We did notice the bases close to our area [in the database on OperationSupportJewsintheMilitary.com], though we felt it might actually be more interesting or even helpful to get out of the Tri-state area, perhaps even head to a state we’ve never been in before, or where Jewish life is in more need of invigoration than New York.

Now let’s see if we can find a way for Shira and her friends to fulfill this proposal.  Email me at if 1) you want to help find a place for these high school students to do this or 2) you are on a military base and would be interested in getting in touch with Shira.  I will then forward any appropriate emails to Shira.

February 26, 2009
Brothers Renew Bond While Serving in Iraq

By Daniel Heimpel

It’s a long flight. The helicopter blades cut the deep night as Aaron Schilleci travels to celebrate the 28th birthday of his younger brother, Dan, on Oct. 6, 2006. The flight passes over the calm, wide valley of the Tigris, the flat expanse of desert, an oil pipeline and villages that soldiers like Aaron never enter.

The lights of Mosul — its 2 million inhabitants under curfew — rise up as the Apache touches down on the expansive airfield once manned by Saddam Hussein’s army. Aaron alights and gets on a phone. He is patched through to Dan.

“Hey what’s going on bro,” Aaron says. “Can you come pick me up?”

Dan, despite having spoken to his brother about the potential visit, is nonetheless surprised. “What? Are you kidding?”

“No, I’m here in Mosul,” Aaron replies.

Dan gets in his truck and drives to the airfield. This is the second of five times the two brothers from Valencia will get see one another during their 15 months in the war zone. For both, that connection becomes an invaluable shield against the horrors of war, as well as the lack of understanding they will find back in America.

Aaron and Dan, now 31 and 30, respectively, are the oldest of four Schilleci children. So close in age, the two brothers were always together as kids.

They shared friends, and after high school both moved to Van Nuys and studied history at UCLA, where they both joined the ROTC. Aaron was commissioned for active duty in the Army in 2001, and Dan moved on to join the Army Reserve in 2004.

Dan says he and his brothers, including younger brother Jacob, weren’t like most Jewish kids. All three played football in high school. All are big and athletic, and they come from a family with a military legacy. Their maternal grandfather, a Jewish immigrant from Russia, flew for the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. Their paternal grandfather fought in the Navy in Vietnam.

Both Dan and Aaron describe their life in Valencia as solidly middle class. Their father worked as an engineer for Lockheed, and their mother was a real estate agent and worked for the family’s clothing import company. The Schilleci kids were far from spoiled. With four kids, Dan says, “there were too many of us to always get what we wanted.”

More here.

Editor’s Note: Ordinarily I wouldn’t publish this and would encourage individuals to keep this kind of topic to the forums, but I know there are readers who might offer intelligent solutions to this Soldier’s problem.  One concept I would dispute is that the “majority” of troops are Reform...I would err on the side of “unaffiliated” and perhaps “disinterested.” I would also encourage this Soldier to approach Conservative/Orthodox Judaism with an open mind; in the military especially, our differences aren’t necessarily important to our command, and we benefit by coming together.  I’m so happy when I just have other Jews, of whatever flavor, in close proximity.  If that means asking a Reform Soldier to daven Ashkenaz on Shabbos, or even if he/she doesn’t fully participate, as long as we can schmooze at the oneg afterwards, life is good.

Editor’s Note #2: A lay leader from Fort Hood has reached out to this anonymous poster, who has thus far declined to further identify his or herself for the sake of correcting perceived problems.  Our lay leaders and chaplains go to great lengths to accommodate Jews from all walks of practice and life.  We are indeed one community within the military, and just as in other recent situations, I suggest everyone avail themselves of the procedures established either in your branch or the DoD to solve problems.  If you’re unfamiliar with the correct course of action under regulations, we can certainly help you or direct you to someone who can.  Flaming a site anonymously is extremely unhelpful, and implicates the military Jewish community as being fractured when in reality it is not.

I’m sorry but I feel that Fort Hood is not at all being respectful of all Jews station here .The west chapel serves only Conservative/Orthodox Jews and Reform Jews feel not welcome or to feel out of place if they do not follow their rules and practices. The fact is most of the active duty is Reform ! Reform Jews are force to travel an hour and a half away from the base if they want to go to services! The members of the services are for the most not even Active Duty on Fort Hood! It is nice however that they give them a chapel because it could cost a lot off post. However been told that the services are for them mostly!  Because Quote: Active Service Members are transients! Thank you so much! But it is funny that the Christians on post all dominations are taken care of and they all have a chapels too! Also the (chapel for Jews) is located in a far off place convenient to the non active duty members! Oh yes that right we none deserve because we are transients.
I do hope that Fort Hood is not back in the 1930 and continue this type of ingerence! But I guess they had to cover the token Jew thing!

I sorry to say I and many reform Active Duty Jews feel un-welcome. There are so many active duty members and their family not being service here. The Jews here are meshed in to one! Kinda like the mental state of mind they had in WWII! If you’re a Jew your all the same! I am surprised however the main chaplain doesn’t have locks! But he close to it I was told. The west chapel serves mainly non-Active duty service members and was moved closer to copper cove TX where they live because the main part of post is where most of the active duty live and they can’t live there because they are not active duty and it is non covenant to them .Also was told that we are transients and services are for them because we come and go! And they set the rules! Oh yes they also said that the Army tell us how to pray too There way! Is the Army way. I did not know that the Army is conservative/ orthodox mainly .I been finding allot of Reform Jews feeling displace here! We are force to travel on the Sabbath at least 1 to 1 1/2 hour for services. This is wrong! Shame on you Fort Hood! All the Christians have each denominations covered and the Jews are only aloud one service one sector. Of Judaism.Who knows next they might even put us into one base someday clump us together.

Great opinion piece in the Jerusalem Post that explores the dual loyalty question, which is particularly germane to service members.

Legally, American Jews are Americans first. Their belief and identity as Jews is a private matter, one of free choice and volunteerism. The word “Jew” is not stamped on my passport. I have no legal status in America as a Jew. I am an American. As long as I remain an American citizen, my legal identity is that of my nation. If, for some reason, there were to be a conflict between my legal status as an American and my private status as a Jew and a Zionist, my loyalty as an American would come first. If I did not believe this, I might fall into Pollard’s trap. Jonathan Pollard should have realized that as much as Israel and the US have in common in terms of long-term goals, the first allegiance of an American Jew is to America - not to the Jewish state.

THE POLLARD AFFAIR should serve as a reminder to American Jews that, as Jews living in America, we are living lives not of dual loyalty but of dual identity. As far apart as is the chasm between Norman Podhoretz and Noam Chomsky in the realm of ideology, both men are legally Americans. The Satmar Hassid living in New Square and the Jewish atheist who eats bacon for breakfast on Yom Kippur in Los Angeles are each Americans. As an American, I have more in common with an American of African descent than I do with a Jew in Israel, even a Jew in Jerusalem who is from the same shtetl in Russia from whence my ancestors came.

Great article in the Jewish Ledger contains some interesting tidbits about relationships between American Presidents and American Jews.

Lincoln was also instrumental in having rabbis officially recognized as chaplains in the armed forces. While army chaplains of the Christian faith had been serving in the armed forces of the U.S. as far back as the revolutionary war, it was not until the civil war that sufficient influence was brought to bear to grant Jewish chaplains the right to serve. In 1962 changes to the chaplaincy law allowing Jewish clergy to serve was submitted by Lincoln to Congress and passed. Upon the recommendation of the board of ministers of the Hebrew Congregation of Philadelphia, Lincoln then appointed the Reverend Jacob Frankel of Rodeph Shalom Congregation to serve as the first Jewish military chaplain.

Lincoln’s also revoked General Ulysses S. Grant’s Order N. 11, issued on Dec. 17, 1862, which read: “The Jews, as a class, violating every regulation of trade established by the Treasury Department and also departmental orders, are hereby expelled from the department (of the Tennessee) within twenty-four hours.” With Tennessee Jews falsely accused of bribing officers to allow them to smuggle cotton, a scarce commodity, from the South to the North, Jewish businessmen strongly protested Grant’s order.

I’d like to add something to my previous blog post about my new site—http://www.OperationSupportJewsintheMilitary.com. 

I need more photos of Jews in the military.  I can go with using the person’s name/rank or not (but still having permission to use the photo).  I really want to put a human face on Jews in the military for the rest of the American Jewish Community who have no idea that Jews serve in the U.S. military.

I’m going to give a presentation at a big Jewish conference in LA in about three weeks about the American Jewish Community supporting Jews in the military.  (Actually, I’m also looking for a Jewish military personnel stationed nearby who can be part of the presentation.)

The immediate suggestion to me about my presentation is that we could all make packages to send to Jewish military personnel. I said no—I want American Jews to connect with Jews serving in the military on a personal level and not by sending anonymous packages.

Then it was suggested that I try to find a Jewish military personnel to participate in the presentation and that I also read from Big Tobacco’s blog posts.

If anyone else would like to send me an email about being Jewish and serving in the U.S. military, I will consider it for the presentation and also for being posted on my site http://www.OperationSupportJewsintheMilitary.com.

You can email me with questions at .

The following blog post “Operation Support Jews in the Military: My Newest Do-Gooder Project” appeared on my blog http://www.dogooderscrooge.blogspot.com on January 15.  In the future I will blog about this project at http://www.mrslieutenant.blogspot.com.  I hope you will help spread the word about this project, as well as help provide information as to which military bases are in the most need of civilian Jewish community support.

Over the past few months I’ve been contemplating how I could help with the problem of a drastic shortage of Jewish chaplains in the military. I’ve talked to people who are interested in helping, and people who have put up obstacles to helping.

And then on December 31 I had an epiphany. I could utilize everything I’ve been learning about internet marketing to start a “citizens’ movement” in support of Jews in the military. And as my company Miller Mosaic, LLC was already building websites for clients, we built one for this project.

Introducing http://www.OperationSupportJewsintheMilitary.com . I’m not trying to raise money—I’m trying to raise awareness of the need for the U.S. Jewish community to support Jews in the military. This support can take a variety of avenues, from inviting Jewish personnel from nearby bases to synagogue services to providing online discounts to military personnel for Jewish products such as Shabbat candlesticks.

I hope you will consider checking out this site, and then emailing the domain name to people you know who might help to get the word out. My goal is to have the U.S. Jewish community use this site as a focal point for supporting Jews in the military.