Categories
- JIG Exclusive: Kosher MRE Taste Test
- Kippah the Jewish Uniform
- Learn to Lead Services or Chant Torah Online!
- How to order kosher MRE’s
- No Jew Has Ever Won The Medal Of Honor
- High Holidays in Baghdad
- Chanukah in Iraq
- The Jews of Iwo Jima
- US Naval Academy Chapel Dedication
- Review: Cast a Giant Shadow
In an effort to help service members in Iraq and Afghanistan celebrate the High Holidays, Jews in Green is teaming up with The Jewish Soldier Foundation to send cards, Jewish music CD’s, and Holiday goodies to the troops. As you can imagine, with Jews being so spread out, services will be few and far between. But with your help, we believe we can make these most important holidays a little more special. Click on “full story” to learn how you can help.
I apologize for the lack of posting as of late. The MRE story took a lot of time to produce and I’ve been pretty busy with flight school.
Speaking of flight school… I just reached a personal milestone this past week, when I flew my first solo flight in a military aircraft!
My schedule should allow for me to catch up on a few things this week, so things will be back on track soon. Since I’m on this topic, I’d like to remind our readers that we can always use help with the website. If you are willing to write a small tidbit about Jewish life at your duty station, or just send us a link about a relevant story, we would be happy to edit it and post it on the site for you.
One of the most popular topics among Jews in the military is kashrut and more specifically, kosher rations. Here at Jews in Green, we regularly receive several hits a week from people searching for kosher MREs on Google. I wrote a brief article on kosher MREs as one of the first stories on Jews in Green, but I’ve come to realize that a much more thorough discussion was required.
So the staff here at Jews in Green (with the help of some active duty taste testers) put the two main offerings for kosher MREs to the test. Read the full article to see how they matched up, and details on how you can obtain the meals.
A great deal of work went into arranging kosher rations for the military, so I’m going to take a little time to spotlight the efforts and challenges faced in doing so. If you just want to see the taste test results, click here.
Article contents:
This past Friday, I had the distinct pleasure of being interviewed by Rabbi Herschel Finman on The Jewish Hour, a weekly radio program on Detroit’s WPON.
The offer for the interview came out of the blue, and I was a little unsure about doing it, but it turned out to be a great experience. I’ve already thanked Rabbi Finman personally, but I wanted to put it up here for all to see as well.
During the interview he offered to submit weekly Torah discussions for Jews in Green, so we now have our own source for a little Torah study each week! Look for the d’varim Torah staring this Friday.
On a side note, I would highly suggest checking out his website. His biography is quite amazing, and even inspirational. His journey to becoming a rabbi is anything but ordinary.
The Army is starting a new recruiting technique; recruiting from the other services.
If you are currently serving in the Air Force or Navy and anticipate honorable discharge from active duty soon, Operation Blue to Green offers you some alternatives to civilian life. Participation in Operation Blue to Green is dependent upon your service’s willingness to release you from your current active duty obligation. Marines and Coast Guardsmen may obtain releases in order to reserve training/assignment options, but will have to complete their current active duty service obligation prior to enlisting in the Army.
Depending on your rank and MOS, you may (or may not) be required to attend new training. All new soldiers will attend a four-week version of boot camp that the Army is calling the “Warrior Transition Course,” at Fort Knox, Ky. though. Some select MOSs are even eligible for a bonus when switching branches.
For more information on the benefits and who is actually eligible, visit the
Operation Blue to Green website.
From the American Forces Information Network
Since the Army and Air Force Exchange Service began its “Gifts from the Homefront” program last year, people from all walks of life have rallied around America’s troops by contributing $406,745 toward the program designed to lift the morale of deployed troops around the world, said officials at AAFES headquarters here.
Because the gift certificates can be used for merchandise already stocked at contingency locations, “Gifts from the Homefront” are a safe alternative to traditional care packages that can strain the military mail system and present force protection issues.
SA Lee Mish, of the 1st MP Company, 1st ID is currently serving in Iraq and has his own blog detailing his experiences there. He does a great job of making regular posts (including pictures). It’s a great way to see some personal stories from an “everyday” soldier over there.
The level to which troops are connected over there blows my mind sometimes. I think it’s great that technology allows for such things. We’ve come a long way from telegrams and MARS messages!
Keep up the good work Lee and come home safely!
EDITORS NOTE: The following is an article submitted by Neil Block (Capt USN Ret), the Navy-half of the incredible Army-Navy lay leader team at Fort Benning, Georgia. The story of the team is an amazing one and they are performing a truly valuable service to the Jewish men and women who serve and train at the base.
Each year the single most recognized college football classic is acknowledged to be the Army-Navy game. In polls by sports television channels and magazines, that on-the-field event consistently is voted to be the most enduring sports rivalry in our country. It is a classic event, once witnessed, never forgotten as to grit of competition, high level of sportsmanship by players as well as fans, and the enduring respect and admiration of the teams and their adherents on the field and off. The depth of emotion and passion of the play and the respect and comradery of the participants--cheering and playing--is unique in sports annals. John Feinstein, the reputed national sports columnist, devoted an entire book, “The Civil Wars,” to the history and color of this event.
The annual Army-Navy football game, as well as other head-to-head sports confrontations, are the only events when one team and their supporters or the other actually roots against the other. In all other competitions between either Army or Navy and other opponents, supporters always include adherents of the other non-participant. Such is the comradery of the Cadets and Midshipmen, each to each other, as is that of their respective alumni.
Editors Note: The following is an excerpt from Howard Leavtt’s Semper Chai , an amazing book that profiles numerous Jewish Marines through many generations. This is the first of many features to come from Mr. Leavitt.
Sheldon Gross landed on Iwo Jima on D-Day with the fifth wave on February 19, 1945 and participated in combat action there as a private with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. He remained there till relieved on March 16.
Gross was eighteen years of age at the time of induction. He came through the draft board and volunteered for the Marine Corps. Not only was he a college freshman at the time, but was an only child and entitled to a number of postponements, all of which he waived.
It has often been said that there is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole (or fighting hole for my fellow jarheads). The main idea being that when the going gets tough, real tough, we all reach out for God.
So July’s question of the month asks:
How has the military affected your ties to Judaism?
You can vote in the monthly poll HERE.
* you can post comments as a guest, but you have to sign in on the forums to cast a vote
