Chaplain (COL) Jacob Goldstein and General Robert Magnus, USMC Retired, former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, recently gathered with 50 Marines at the Jewish Center in Manhattan to honor fallen Jews in the US military service.

“In front of the Torah, we pay tribute to those who served our country,” said Rabbi Yosie Levine of the Jewish Center, in Manhattan, which hosted the May 30 Jewish Community Memorial Day Event, “An Appreciation of America’s Service Members.” With a U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard on the bimah, Levine told the guests: “Each Shabbat we pray and say todah [thank you]…May God bless America.”

General Magnus was a former helo pilot who carried the callsign “Heeb” for more than 30 years.

The Memorial Day event was steeped in Jewish ceremony and held at a Jewish center.  The 50 Marines attended in uniform, a color guard officially presented the colors, and the highest ranking Jewish Chaplain in the US military presided in uniform. 

Like the Marine baptism that occurred in California prior to a deployment last year, the Marines’ participation in the religious exercise is a testament to the religious freedom practiced in the US military.  American men and women do not surrender their religious identity upon entering the US military, nor are they required to hide it — despite what critics or adversaries may think.

Via Jews in Green.