“It might be best for you to remove your kippah while in public… You wouldn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to yourself.”
This is just one example of countless messages that Jewish service members have received while on duty over the last few weeks. As the recent Israel-Hamas war has triggered an alarming surge in anti-Jewish propaganda and incidents of anti-semitism worldwide, many in the military community have also been experiencing feelings of isolation and fear.
In response to this challenging new reality, the Aleph Institute’s military department has stepped forward as an unwavering source of support for our Jewish service members. With service members serving in the most remote locations, the volume of calls coming in for assistance and Jewish connection has significantly increased.
“Our military chaplains are the unsung heroes at Aleph,” says Rabbi Aaron Lipskar, Aleph’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our chaplains are expertly trained to step up in these unprecedented situations, providing the vital emotional and spiritual support that so many individuals desperately need and would not receive otherwise.”
Upon learning that the soldier had been advised to remove his kippah, Aleph Chaplain Major Mendy Stern, stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, took immediate action. He held leadership accountable for their words, asserting how the U.S. Army safeguards religious freedom. “Our strength and might is found in our identity as Jews, and as soldiers we are sworn to uphold and protect the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution, including the freedom of religion,” he says.
Aleph’s chaplains have doubled their efforts to provide a safe space for the service members under their care. They have arranged numerous events that promote Jewish pride and host public prayer services, with many simply offering a shoulder to lean on.
“I’ve personally conducted over 55 counseling sessions for US troops who are seeking support,” says Stern. “We’ve organized several prayer vigils and held an extremely successful ‘Shabbat Against Anti-Semitism,’ with over 100 participants.”
The event was held at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) and welcomed service members of all faiths and denominations, half of whom were Jewish. The participants deeply appreciated the opportunity to share and learn, Chaplain Stern says. “No matter the denomination, it is vital that everyone on JBSA feel welcome and free to practice their religion and observe their individual beliefs,” he remarked. “Freedom of religion is a First Amendment right for all, including those in the military.”
One attendee was U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Christian Ruiz, a recent training graduate from the 12th Training Squadron at JBSA–Randolph. The airman was excited to explore the Jewish faith with his family. “I think this is a phenomenal experience to learn about the Jewish culture and the Jewish belief system,” he says. “I think it is great that I can learn here and share this information with people in my unit.”
As Stern puts it, it is very important that the community take a stand together against anti-semitism or any other type of negativity toward a specific religion. “We should learn from each other, support each other, and build a stronger, more understanding community,” he says.
Stern reiterated the value of allowing others to practice their faith without fear. “Like all hatred, anti-semitism comes from a fear of those different from us, and a lack of understanding about that person’s or group of people’s experiences and perspectives,” he says. “It can be seen in unkind jokes, graffiti, social media posts, and even violence.”
Chaplain Major Elie Estrin, Aleph’s military personnel liaison and Chaplain to the US Air Force Reserve, shared how he recently received a message from a female Jewish airman who was feeling utterly devastated by the horror of October 7. She expressed that nobody around her cared or understood what she was going through. “When this message reached the base commander, it struck a chord,” Estrin says. “He immediately set aside his other responsibilities, and made a point to attend our prayer service here at MacDill Air Force Base.”
For this airman, and the other Jews on the base, the wing commander’s attendance was a huge and significant statement, demonstrating how their leadership is aware and empathetic to what Jewish people are dealing with at this time. At the prayer service, Estrin encouraged the crowd to increase their acts of goodness and kindness, emphasizing how everyone can play a part in ushering in victory by bringing more light to the world.
Rabbi Aaron Lipskar echoed this sentiment, saying, “We have complete confidence and faith that we, the Jewish people, are going to get through this. This is the message that people need to hear right now.”
Originally published in the Pesach 5784 issue of The Jewish American Warrior.
