Theme: Resilience, Readiness, and Moral Clarity within Crisis Ministry
Course Schedule
Wednesday, 28 February:
Dress: Casual
14:00 – 18:00 Arrival and welcome. Reception in The Shul, 9540 Collins Ave., Classroom 6. Distribution of schedule, information packets and welcome bags.
19:00 – 21:30 Social barbecue
Thursday, 29 February:
Dress: Duty uniform or equivalent
07:00 – 07:25 Garments of the Soul, Part I: Ch, Capt Yitzchak Lerman (optional)
07:30 – 08:25 Shacharit (morning prayers)
08:25 – 08:30 Dvar Torah (homily): Ch, 1Lt Heshel Mangel, USAFR
08:30 – 09:15 Breakfast
09:15 – 10:15
Welcome and Greetings: Rabbi Aaron Lipskar, Chief Executive Director of the Aleph Institute
Overview: Rabbi Sanford Dresin, CH (COL) USA Ret., Endorser
Current Projects and Outlook: Ch, Maj Elie Estrin, Aleph Military Personnel Liaison, Executive Assistant to the Endorser
Rabbi Sholom Lipskar, Founder of the Aleph Institute
Spouses: Icebreaker: Getting to Know You (Classroom 5)
10:15 – 11:00 Hostile Nations: Brig Gen Matthew Higer, USAF (Ret.)
11:00 – 11:15 Break
11:15 – 11:45 Catching the Onset of PTSD: Dr. Drorit Gaines, PhD
11:45 – 12:15 PTSD and Families: Judy Elias, Director, Heroes to Heroes
12:15 – 13:15 Lunch, with special guest: The Honorable Ms. Deborah Lee James, 23rd Secretary of the Air Force
13:15 – 14:15 Break out sessions
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- Chaplains: Case studies. Groups will be announced by name. (Classroom 1)
- Lay Leaders: Living an Observant Life in the Military: A Discussion. (Classroom 5)
- Spouses: Success on the Home Front: Round-table. (Classroom 4)
14:15 – 15:00 Pirkei Avot as a Source for Moral Clarity: Rabbi Yisrael Edelman, Rabbi, Young Israel of Deerfield Beach
15:00 – 15:15 DLA Update: SFC Michael Hyer, USA
15:15 – 15:30 Break
15:30 – 16:15 IDF Brief on Operation Swords of Iron: COL Tzachi Dotan, IDF
16:15 – 17:00 The IDF Rabbinate During Operation Swords of Iron: Maj, Rabbi Yehuda Rath, IDF Rabbinate
17:00 – 17:15 Purim and Passover supplies: Rabbi Menachem Katz, Aleph Director of Outreach
17:15 – 17:30 Mincha (afternoon prayers)
17:30 – 19:00 Free time, PT
19:00 – 21:30 Dinner. Dress: Business casual. Retirement ceremony will take place in the Main Sanctuary.
Retirement Ceremony: Ch, Lt Col Michael Bram, USAF. Presiding officer: Ch, Col Lance Giannone, USAF.
Dinner Guest Speaker: Dave Woodruff, CDO, The Bob Woodruff Foundation
Followed by Maariv (evening prayers) and Daf Yomi Daily Talmud study: Ch, Lt Col Friedman (optional).
Friday, 01 March:
Dress: Duty uniform or equivalent
07:00 – 07:25 Garments of the Soul, Part II: Ch, Capt Yitzchak Lerman (optional)
07:30 – 08:10 Shacharit (morning services)
08:10 – 08:15 Dvar Torah (homily): CH (CPT) Chaim Aaron, USA
08:15 – 09:00 Breakfast
09:00 – 09:45 Navy Chaplaincy Update: RADM Gregory Todd, USN CHC, US Navy Chief of Chaplains
09:45 – 10:30 Army Chaplaincy Update: CH (BG) Jack Stumme, US Army Deputy Chief of Chaplains
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – 11:30 Ethics and Morality of Warfare: CH (COL) Ari Soussan, USA, National Defense University
11:30 – 12:00 The Armed Forces Chaplains Board and DoD-wide Religious Accommodation: Ch, Col Dale Marlowe, USAF
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
12:15 – 12:30 Jewish War Veterans Update: CSM Gary Ginsburg, USA Ret., JWV National Vice Commander; Maj Aaron Scheer, USAF Ret.
13:00 – 14:00 Break out sessions
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- Chaplains: Case studies. Groups will be announced by name. (Classroom 1)
- Lay Leaders: Successful DRGL Programming: COL Benjamin Wallen, USA; Ch, Maj Elie Estrin, USAFR (Classroom 5)
14:00 – 15:00 Halachic Decisions in Wartime: Rabbi Ehud Kvin, member, Sao Paolo Beit Din; Rabbi Yehuda Rath, IDF Halachic Branch
15:00 – 15:30 Daf Yomi daily Talmud study: Ch, Lt Col Friedman (optional)
15:00 – 17:00 PT and Shabbat prep
Shabbat – Friday Evening:
Dress: Class A uniform or equivalent
17:00 – 17:30 Formal group photo in The Shul sanctuary. Mandatory – must be on time!
17:30 – 18:15 Cadet Program: An Overview of Traditional Jewish Life – CH (MAJ) Menachem Stern, USA; Ch, Capt Yosef Zarnighian, USAFR (Classroom 3)
18:06 Candle Lighting (in the Shul lobby) and Mincha (afternoon services), followed by Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming the Sabbath prayers): CH (CPT) Elisar Admon, USAR
19:00 Shabbat dinner
Kiddush (Sabbath benediction): Rabbi COL Israel Muller, Chief Jewish Chaplain, Belgian Armed Forces
Hamotzi (blessing over bread): CH (CPT) Noteh Glogauer, Royal Canadian Forces
Introduction of special guests: Rabbi Aaron Lipskar
Welcome: Rabbi Sholom Lipskar
Introduction of Academy cadets: COL Benjamin Wallen, USA; MAJ Michael Greenberg, USA; Ch, Capt Saul Rappeport, USAF
Greetings: VADM Herman Shelanski, USN (Ret.)
Keynote Speaker: Major General Scott Jackson, USA, Chief of Staff, USSOUTHCOM
Grace after Meal: CH (COL) Menachem Sebbag, Chief Jewish Chaplain, Armed Forces of the Netherlands
Shabbat Day, 02 March:
Dress: Class A uniform or equivalent
08:00 – 09:00 Cake and coffee (Social Hall)
08:25 – 08:55 The Maturation of Spirituality: Ch, Maj Elie Estrin (optional – Social Hall)
09:00 Shacharit (morning services): Rabbi Zsolt Balla, Chief Rabbi of the Bundeswehr
10:00 – 11:00 Cadet Program: CH (MAJ) Tzvi Teitelbaum, USAR; Ch, Capt Levy Pekar, USAF (Men’s Lounge, new building, third floor)
Prayer for the United States: CH (COL) Sanford Dresin, USA Ret.
Prayer for US Armed Forces: CH (COL) Jacob Goldstein, USA Ret.
Prayer for the Land of Israel: Maj, Rabbi Yehuda Rott, IDF Rabbinate, Department of Halacha
Prayer for the IDF: COL Tzachi Dotan, previous IDF Rabbinate Chief of Staff
Introduction to the Guest Speaker: Rabbi Sholom Lipskar
Guest speaker: VADM Herman Shelanski, USN Ret.
11:30 Musaf prayers: Ch, Maj Dan Millner, TX ANG
12:00 – 13:00 Community Kiddush (collation – Social Hall)
13:00 – 13:30 Mincha (afternoon services)
13:30 – 15:00 Lunch (Classroom 1)
Hamotzi (blessing over bread): CDR Aaron Kleinman, CHC USN
Guest speaker: Mr. Joshua Landes
Grace after meal: Rabbi Chaplain Shmuel Havlin, Bundeswehr
15:00 – 18:00 Free time
1700 – 17:30 One by One – An Inspirational Charge: Mrs. Baila Stern (for spouses and female service members – Classroom 1)
17:30 Community Women’s Torah class: Mrs. Chani Lipskar, The Shul Rebbetzin (Classroom 1)
17:15 – 18:00 Daf Yomi Daily Talmud study: Ch, Lt Col Friedman (optional)
18:20 Seudat Shlishit (light dinner – Social Hall)
Dvar Torah (homily): Rabbi Zsolt Balla, Chief Rabbi of the Bundeswehr
Grace after meal: CPT Jon Reeder, USA
18:58 Shabbat concludes. Maariv (evening services) and Havdalah (Sabbath conclusion ceremony)
Evening: free time
19:45 – 20:45 Father and Children community learning program (Social Hall)
20:00 – 21:00 Spouse’s night out (Classroom 5)
Sunday, 03 March:
Dress: Duty uniform or equivalent
07:30 – 07:55 Resurrection – a Primer: Ch, Capt Yitzchak Lerman (optional)
08:00 – 08:40 Shacharit (morning services)
08:40 – 08:45 Dvar Torah (homily): LT Yehoshua Rubin, USN CHC
08:45 – 09:30 Break-out sessions by branch over breakfast: (Social Hall)
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- USA Moderator: CH (COL) Shmuel Felzenberg, USA
- USN/USCG/USMC Moderator: CDR Aaron Kleinman, USN CHC
- USAF/USSF Moderator: Ch, Lt Col Bram, USAF (Ret.)
- NATO/Allied Moderator: CH (COL) Menachem Sebbag, Chief Jewish Chaplain, Armed Forces of the Netherlands
9:30 – 10:30 Air Force Chaplaincy Update and Q&A: Ch, Maj Gen Randall Kitchens, USAF Chief of Chaplains
10:30 – 11:00 Combating Anti-Semitism in the DoD: Ch, Col Yaakov Bindell, ANGB
11:00 – 11:30 Israel’s Wars as Seen Through the Lens of Jewish Law: Ch, Lt Col Friedman
11:30 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 12:30 Warfighter Readiness – Panel Discussion: Col Aaron Kleiman, USAF; CH (MAJ) Tzvi Teitelbaum, USAR; CH (CPT) Michael Harari, USA; SSG Tzvi Felzenberg, USA
12:30 – 13:30 Hot Wash, boxed lunches
13:30 – 13:45 Mincha (afternoon prayers)
13:45 – 14:30 Daf Yomi Daily Talmud study: Ch, Lt Col Friedman (optional)
Sunday afternoon: Individual consultations with Rabbi Dresin by appointment (Hamie Library)
13:45 – 16:45 New and Incoming Chaplain Session: Featuring “Fighting Spirit” film on military chaplaincy. (Mandatory for applicants, chaplain candidates and under three-year chaplains.) Rabbi Sanford Dresin; CH (MAJ) Menachem Stern, USA; and Ch, Capt Levy Pekar, USAF
16:45 – 17:45 Chaplain Applicant Panel Interviews
Tzeitchem Leshalom. See you next year, B’ezrat Hashem!
