New Jewish Chaplain for the Armed Forces

Manchester Rabbi, Arnold Saunders, is to become the new Jewish Civilian Chaplain to her Majesty’s Forces.

Rabbi Saunders, a graduate of Jews’ College, will take over from The Rev’d Malcolm Weisman on 1st September and will be the first full time Jewish chaplain for decades.  Based at Fulwood Barracks in Preston, he will be responsible for the pastoral care of all Jewish personnel of all three services throughout the UK and on duty overseas.  He said: “I know that the role will be challenging with a small but vibrant and steadily growing Jewish military community.  Our members represent all shades of Judaism but have a strong sense of Jewish identity, pride and belonging and deserve the very best support we can give them.

“I will be working closely with our faith endorsing authority, The Jewish Committee for HM Forces (JCHMF), to ensure that our troops receive whatever religious, cultural and welfare resources they need.  We will also be looking at Jewish educational opportunities for those living far from mainstream communities. I am looking forward to undertaking my new duties and I’m proud to serve alongside our brave servicemen and women.”

In addition to his civilian appointment Rabbi Saunders has been appointed to a Territorial Army commission in the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department and will serve in a muti-faith role with Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force.

JCHMF chairman, Colonel Martin Newman, welcomed the new appointment.  He said: “Padre Saunders will be a great asset to our community.  He has already made himself known to many of our members and has shown a great understanding of the pastoral needs of young servicemen and women often operating far from home and increasingly under very dangerous circumstances.

Padre Saunders will have the distinction of wearing the very rare Jewish cap badge of the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department, a scarce collectors’ item which has not been worn by a serving padre for some 40 years.