Soccer Dad

Jews in green - military monday 9

Even though Israel is famous for its military, Jews are not especially well known for being soldiers. But that doesn't mean that there aren't any Jewish soldiers.

My father enlisted 1957. When he learned that his mother was sick he received a compassionate transfer to Fort Dix. After she passed away, my father told me that the Orthodox soldiers always made sure that he had a minyan, a quorum of ten, to say kaddish, the Jewish prayer recited in memory of a close relative.

About ten years ago, when there was enough interest at my place of work, my brother and I were in charge of arranging the minyan for afternoon prayers. It seemed like we had been given the opportunity to return the favor.

An effect of my father's army service was to give him a positive view of Orthodox Judaism.

Elie's Expositions tells the story of his grandfather who fought in WWI, for the other side.

And American Jewish History tells us about the life of chaplain Rev. Louis Werfel.

There is a blog devoted to Jews in the Military called Jews in Green. Unfortunately it hasn't been updated in a while. But they are looking for soldiers and veterans to interview for a High Holiday story. It was also interesting to learn about Aaron Spelling's army career and about a chaplain celebrating his 50th year of service.

The US Army's website has a whole section devoted to recent Medal of Honor winner Cpl. Tibor Rubin. Tibor Rubin not only demonstrated great bravery during the Korean War, he also survived the Holocaust. From President George W. Bush's remarks about Cpl Rubin:

Corporal Tibor "Ted" Rubin's many acts of courage during the Korean War saved the lives of hundreds of his fellow soldiers. In the heat of battle, he inspired his comrades with his fearlessness. And amid the inhumanity of a Chinese prisoner of war camp, he gave them hope. Some of those soldiers are here today, and they have never forgotten what they owe this man. And by awarding the Medal of Honor to Corporal Rubin today, the United States acknowledges a debt that time has not diminished. . . .

Born in Hungary in 1929, Ted and his family were rounded up by the Nazis and taken to concentration camps when he was just 13 years old. He was taken to Mauthausen Camp in Austria, where an SS officer told the prisoner, "You, Jews, none of you will ever make it out of here alive." And many did not. Before the war was over, both of Ted's parents and one of his sisters were lost in the Holocaust. Ted Rubin survived the camp for 14 months, long enough to be liberated by U.S. Army troops on May the 5th, 1945.

But right now when I think of Jewish soldiers, I'm generally not thinking of American soldiers, though I know of a few who have served in Iraq. I'm thinking of Israeli soldiers who are fighting for the survival of the Jewish state.

Willow Tree's son, the Wit has been called up to serve in Lebanon.

I hope that he and all the other soldiers return home safely and successfully.

Technorati tag: Military Monday.

Posted by SoccerDad at July 24, 2006 5:04 AM