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Page Twenty-four
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
Chaplain Gets Best Chance
to Work With Jewish Youth
Friday, October
Boy Scouts at Religious Services
By CHAPLAIN J. B. MESSING
(The rewarding role of the Jewish chaplain in the peacetime armed
forces is the theme of this article by the man assigned to care for the
religious needs of Jewish boys at Fort Knox, Ky. Like other Jewish
chaplains he was recruited, indorsed ecclesiastically and served by
the division of religious activities of the National Jewish Welfare
Board.)
IF I WERE ASKED
what the most striking difference is between
ministering to a civilian congregation and serving an army con-
gregation, I would reply:
"When a civilian tells you he
liked your sermon he is perform-
ing an act of courtesy. When a
•
soldier tells you he liked your
sermon, he ain't kiddin', bud!"
ence.
I melancholy
Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Chafetz
and Family
the differ-
To cite another: Tuesday is
cultural night at Fort Knox. We
observe it by having a Maariv
(evening) service, which we fol-
low with a showing of films
of
Jewish interest, playing of
Jew-
ish recordings, discussion of
Jew-
ish events.
Sometimes we even have
a
guest speaker who is prominent
in Jewish life. Of one thing we
are certain, the men thoroughly
enjoy the evening—and so does
the chaplain!
These, then, are ways in which
the Jewish chaplain makes Ju-
daism live for Jewish youth. It
is, of course, a day-to-day job;
its rewards are endless.
aci
I he
Chi,
an
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N. Y. Outlaws Bias
in State's Colleges
can
Post
NEW YORK (WNS) — The
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gone into effect.
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Obviously, most of the m
en
who participated would never
have dreamed of going to a
Purim
party in civilian life.
In this
case, the army made
the Rabbi's point of view is the
fact that the parents
exert no influence on their chil-
dren in the direction of Syna-
gogue attendance, with the result
It has been my observation that that the Rabbi's program rarely
the Rabbi has an odd kinship touches the great reservoir of
with the GI: They both have an Judaism, the youth..
impressive list of gripes! In the
During its most formative pe-
e 0 the former, one of his ma- i riod, then, when the habit of
jor dissatisfactions is that his j Synagogue participation should
ministry is mainly with the ma- be taking firm hold, Jewish young
Boy Scouts attend religious se
ure. They constitute the greater people are permitted .to develop
rvices at a camp in New York.
The rustic chapel is a memoria
portion of the attendance at serv- this gaping void in their lives.
I to a former scout, Capt. Jacob
• • •
Joseph, USMC, who w as killed on Guadalcanal.
ices as well as at special events
MIX WITH JEWS
related to the Synagogue.
Thus, the very boys who in ci-
IN THE AMERICAN army to-
Particularly distressing from
can be shown the finest aspects
vilian life wouldn't be caught
day, however, one finds a curi-
of Judaism; it is an invaluable
yawning in Synagogue, eagerly
ously anomalous situation. To be-
contact—one which would have
attend religious services in the
gin with, the age range of the
been completely lost to them in
army (or navy, as the case may civilian life.
service population is largely in be).
For many a Jewish serviceman,
the youth and young adult class.
Nor do they need "special at-
The Jewish lads among them,
the Friday evening services are
tractions" to do so. They come
who, of course, number their fair
his first meaningful touch with
because of an express need, an
proportion in uniform, are —
the Jewish faith in action. It is
inner
urge.
I
would
confidently
a voluntary contact, let us re-
thanks to their environment —
match the attendance at my Fri-
imbued with a desire to meet and
member, without the negatives,
day
evening
services
with
that
of
mix with other Jewish person-
Wish Everyone A Very
any civilian congregation, speak- parental pressure or sense of ob-
nel. Their Jewish background
ligation.
ing proportionally.
may be (and generally is!) rudi-
The sermon, the services, the
Happy and Prosperous
It is the army chaplaincy,
mentary to the point of child-like
therefore, w h i c h surprisingly Oneg Sh"hbat all combine to cre-
I
innocence.
But
their
hunger
for
New Year
enough presents the Rabbi with
Jewish companionship is aston- a
youth congregation and pro-
ishingly well-developed•
vides him with the golden oppor-
tunity of working with the young
people of.our faith.
To a man truly dedicated to
preserving and vitalizing Ju-
daism, the situation is positively
thrilling.
.
..
Rosh Hashonah
Greetings
1, 19 48
ate • an atmosphere of plessiTZ'
ness, as well as instruetweness.
To cite just one example: On the
occasion of Purim, we
had a cele-
bration at Fort Knox.
Louisville
people had prepared a splendid
repast and also distributed gifts.
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Greetings .. .
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