Hey,

i am an orthodox jew and have always wanted to go to the service academies. i have already been accepted to West point and hope to hear from Annapolis soon too. But I wanted to know if any one had ideas on keeping kosher and shabbat there.

I was wondering if anyone knew if maybe i could eat vegetarian while there, to help deal with the kosher issue maybe. Also how accommodating are the academies for shabbat and can I get extended time for work and the such due to shabbat. Any information would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Hi,

First congratulations on getting accepted to West Point and good luck with Annapolis.

My son went to Annapolis and graduated in 2004.  We’re not Orthodox so he didn’t have any issues with the food or other restrictions.

The way the food is served at the Naval Academy is all family style.  I believe the policy right now is that all Midshipman have to eat almost all their meals together, but I don’t think there’s any requirement that you have to eat everything that’s being served.  There’s always salad and vegetables and peanut butter with bread.  The kitchen isn’t Kosher of course.

There are Friday night services and I don’t think you’d have any trouble attending those even if other required activities are being held at the same time.  But Saturdays I’m not sure about.  Football is the “real” religion--all home football games are mandatory; religious services aren’t!!  So the question is would you be allowed to miss a football game? 

I think your best bet would be to get in touch with the Jewish chaplains at both schools.  They can give you the best and most current advice.

I have served with a rather large number of Jews who were West Point grads.  Tough program, will push you farther than you have been at any time so far in your life.

Just remind yourself that you want to be there.

A Rabbi from my home town was the Chaplain there.  He is retired now but if you needed, I could get you in touch with him.  Also have a friend who is a Chaplain with the 82nd Airborne (Chabad trained).

Keeping kosher at the Naval Academy is very difficult, but is not absolutely impossible.  Several years ago, a young woman, the daughter of a rabbi, was a midshipman who did so.  She ate a lot of peanut butter, according to her.

Meals are taken at the academy at a common table with the food served family style, and as of late, all meals must be taken at the mess hall.  (For a period of time, upper classmen were permitted some flexibility in eating away from the mess hall.  That policy has recently changed.)

As for shabbat services, we now have a fully functioning Jewish Chapel at Annapolis and have a Jewish Chaplain on board.  At this time it is Rabbi Daniella Kolodny.  There are shabbat services, but one must aware that military training and operational requirements trump shabbat observance.  There is not “laying out” or not “working” on shabbat.

The environment at Navy is comfortably accommodating for Jews and there are probably 4 times the number of Jewish midshipmen now than when I was a midshipman in the late 50s.

If you want more information, please contact me and I will give you some additional source contancts.

Neil Block
Captain, US Navy, Retired
USNA Class of 1961
Admissions Officer USNA
Jewish Lay Leader
US Army Infantry Command
Fort Benning, GA