LINK to JIG story.

What is your take on the supposed “disharmony among military chaplains”? 

Is this really a widespread problem, or are these just isolated incidents? 

What (if anything) should be done about it?

Unfortunately, the bickering among Jewish groups on the whole is reflected and magnified in the Military.

I don’t think anything will be done about it, as no one is about to get off their collective high horse and compromise.

We have found, through the years of dealing with the military as the Jewish supplier that this does affect all Jewish military servicemen/woman as there is no unified voice requesting Jewish religious supplies.  Chaplains like to deal with the companies associated with and supportive of their beliefs, and thus they don’t unify and request supplies from the DSCP as a single group.

Dee
Jewish Prime Vendor

The article really focuses on issues between chaplains of different religious denominations, but it’s interesting that you mention conflict among Jewish chaplains.

The supply issue probably has some circumstances outside of religion in general (read: usual military red tape and politics).  I actually think that Judaism in the military is remarkably unified.  What I mean is that while most civilian congregations I’ve been involved with tend to exert a lot of energy dividing the community along movement lines (reform, conservative, etc.).  The opposite tends to be true within the military.  Chaplains and layleaders tend to be particularly flexible and welcoming to all Jews, not only ones from their particular movement.

Again, I am only speaking of those who wear a uniform and serve.  Some support organizations are clearly aligned with a movement, but for the most part they don’t seem to discriminate.

I like your suggestion for a “unified voice” among Jewish chaplains.  I wonder if other Christian denominations have something like this.  As far as I know there is no such thing as a “Head Jewish (or other) Chaplain of the U.S. Armed Forces”.

Just wondering, how does a Reform Chaplain deal with an Orthodox Serviceman.  Is he respectful towards his (more stringent) observances?  Will he ‘help’ him, even though, according to his beliefs it is not ‘necessary’ to do all that the Orthodox serviceman requests?  (such as kosher food, shabbat and prayers etc.)

As a supplier, my feedback is that a Christian Chaplain is more respectful towards the needs of a observant serviceman/woman, than a Jewish Chaplain that isn’t as observant (as the serviceman/woman they are servicing).
Dee

I would love to hear back from some service members that have actually been in this situation.

I really find it hard to believe that a Reform Jewish chaplain would blow off the needs of an Orthodox Jew.  I would also find it equally hard to believe that an Orthodox Jewish chaplain would harass a Reform Jew to observe differently.

It’s one thing to encourage or suggest things, but another to alienate and ignore.

I think that “blow off” and “harras” are term that are a bit much.  However, I did hear from more observant servicemen/women who were told that ‘you have to sacrifice (kosher food) when you are in the service’ by a less observant Jewish chaplain. 

Face it, a chaplain can make the life of a soldier more difficult if he/she wants to, or can make the it easier by supporting his religious needs.  (whether by switching duties, time off for holiday services, getting kosher foo life of a soldied and religious articles etc.)

Actually, some Christian chaplains were more responsive and respectful to the needs of the observant Jewish soldier than less observant Jewish chaplains.

Not being in the military, all I hear is ‘grapevine news’ I wonder if anyone has any actual experiences or stories to back this up or refute it.

Dee

As a Reform Jew I have dealt with more religiously observant rabbis and have had only good experiences with them.