The Jewish Daily Forward notes that Jewish American military members are able to celebrate their religious holidays even while deployed to a combat zone — in a country with an official Islamic constitution, no less.
Rabbi Jacob Goldstein will lead Yom Kippur services this year dressed not in the black fedora of his Lubavitch Hasidic sect, but in full battle gear at a Combat Operating Base in eastern Afghanistan. Read more…
Categories: Government and Religion Tags: Afghanistan, Chaplain, hasidic, Islam, jacob goldstein, Jewish, laurence bazer, Military, mission aviation fellowship, ramadan, Religion, religious freedom, rosh hashana, yom kippur
A variety of previous articles have covered the celebration and recognition of Ramadan by the US military in Afghanistan. A recent article noted the same, with an interesting comment from one of the participating Afghans.
“I am very happy to have shared tonight with [American soldiers],” said Haji Tor Jan, local leader and organizer of villages surrounding [US Camp Nathan Smith.] “I know it is not your celebration but we are grateful to share it with you…”
“We have a bond together and if it’s your Christmas we will do the same celebration for you guys; we will bring you food, music and everything,” Tor Jan said.
Now that would be kind of interesting.
US Air Force General Craig McKinley is the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. He recently hosted an Islamic iftar in Washington, DC. The dinner highlighted the Guard’s “State Partnership Program” through which the Guard “foster[s] relationships with Muslim and Muslim-majority nations.”
With several senior Muslim and National Guard leaders in attendance for the dinner, Imam Mohamed Magid, the executive director of Read more…
The past month has seen a wide variety of articles from the US military showcasing its support of religious freedom — specifically, the accommodation of US military members celebrating Ramadan. Other articles have highlighted the US military’s “respect” for the Islamic holy month.
In Iraq, for example, an article describes the tenets of the Islamic faith and notes US General officers have been hosting nightly iftars, including General Lloyd Austin, commanding General of US Forces in Iraq:
To celebrate this very special religious month, various U.S. general officers have been hosting a post-dusk meal called an iftar…Iftar dinners are being hosted around the country as a way of showing support and appreciation to their Iraqi counterparts.
Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III [said] Read more…
Categories: Government and Religion Tags: Afghanistan, alaa abdelazim, army, asif balbale, bashar ameen, Chaplain, christian, frank helmick, Islam, john smith, lloyd austin, Military, Navy, operation zakat, ramadan, Religion, religious freedom, Wicca
A US Army article highlights the faith and work ethic of PFC Ajmal Zada, an adherent of Islam who is observing Ramadan while still supporting his combat unit in Iraq.
Zada notes he joined the Army with trepidation over how his religious beliefs would be accepted:
“When I first joined the military, I was scared that I was not going to be allowed to practice my religion,” Zada explained, describing his initial fear of enlisting. “But my chain of command and the chaplains have all been very helpful and supportive, and I have had no problems.”
Not only has the US Army been supportive of Zada’s religious freedom, his Read more…
A military release discusses the celebration of Ramadan by local Afghan soldiers with whom the US military operates.
The article notes that Capt Daniel Petronzio, mentioned last week for his interaction with local mullahs, is “experiencing the fast firsthand.”
“With the food, it’s not so bad,” said Petronzio…”But the afternoon is definitely the most difficult time because of the dehydration…But it has shown to me what the [ANA] soldiers are going through, and that going out during the day could be dangerous. And, it’s an honor to go through the same thing they are and have a more intimate understanding of Ramadan.” Read more…
US Navy Lt Haji “Omar” Shareef, a helicopter pilot, was interviewed recently on his ability to adhere to the religious tenets of Ramadan while being a military pilot. (Video below the fold.)
While he says Muslims can largely do their duties, he notes they do ask for accommodations such as not doing physical training during the day, since they cannot drink water between sunrise and sunset.
On his part, as a pilot, he “puts himself on Read more…
Categories: Government and Religion Tags: Chaplain, haji shareef, helicopter, Islam, Military, Navy, omar, Prayer, ramadan, Religion, religious freedom, super bowl
The International Security Assistance Force, led by US Army Gen. John R. Allen and Ambassador Simon Gass, hosted an Islamic iftar in Afghanistan, the meal that breaks the daily fast of Ramadan. Afghan leaders were thankful:
Defense Minister of Afghanistan Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak [said] “This is actually a demonstration of the upmost respect for our beliefs, our faith, our traditions and our culture…”
As noted in a US Army article, Islamic US Army Soldiers at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, are observing Ramadan with others of their faith.
As Soldiers engaged in war, the Islamic faith technically exempts them from fasting during Ramadan, but at least one Soldier has chosen to Read more…
Categories: Government and Religion Tags: Afghanistan, army, bagram, iftar, isaf, Islam, john allen, Military, Prayer, ramadan, Religion, religious freedom, shuja kazmi, simon gass
Though facing some criticism for ‘ignoring’ Easter this year, President Obama hosted a White House iftar breaking the Ramadan fast last week. From his statement at the event:
Tonight is part of a rich tradition here at the White House of celebrating the holy days of many faiths…People of different faiths coming together, with humility before our maker, to reaffirm our obligations to one another, because no matter who we are, or how we pray, we’re all children of a loving God.
The President recalled the sacrifice of Army Specialist Kareem Khan, whom he also highlighted at the same event in 2009. Khan, an American Soldier and Muslim, was killed in action in Iraq in 2007.
US Navy Chaplain (CAPT) Jon Cutler is the director of Religious Affairs for CJTF – Horn of Africa. In late July, he met with religious leaders in Tanzania to communicate the US military’s religious freedom and coordinate for future cooperation.
Cutler highlighted the US military’s religious plurality and freedom to his hosts in East Africa:
“My close friend and Muslim Imam, Shakur Ali, Africa command chaplain [U.S. Air Force Colonel] Jerry Lewis, and I are visiting Dar es Salaam from August 10 to 15 [during Ramadan],” Cutler told the religious leaders. “It’s unheard of for a Jew, Christian and Muslim to be friends Read more…
Categories: Chaplain Tags: africa, Chaplain, christian, Islam, jerry lewis, Jewish, jon cutler, Military, ramadan, Religion, religious freedom, shakur ali, tanzania
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan will begin on August 1st and continue until about the end of the month this year.
A press release from the wing chapel at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, explains the details and significance of the celebration: Read more…
An Air Force public affairs article described an officer’s deployment in support of mortuary affairs at Dover, a somber and honorable duty.
The article inadvertently touched on another historical tradition of the US Air Force (or, more accurately, the US Army Air Forces). The author published a photo of her grandfather with his A-20 Havoc in World War II:
A close up Read more…
Categories: Fighter Pilot Tags: a-20 havoc, air force, Aircraft, bomb graffiti, enterprise, Fighter Pilot, Iraq, Islam, Military, nose art, ramadan, Tradition
An official Army press release notes that senior members of the American military participated in Islamic Iftars in Iraq, sharing meals that broke the Ramadan fast with Iraqi locals and military servicemembers. Leaders described the meals as an opportunity to display unity, understanding, and respect for Islam:
LtCol Mark Olds, the planner for one of the Iftars on Basra, said the dinners were an opportunity for US forces to show their unity with Iraq.
“We wanted to show our understanding and respect of Muslim traditions and practices by hosting an Iftar dinner for our Iraqi partners Read more…
Categories: Government and Religion Tags: army, Constitution, iftar, Iraq, Islam, mark olds, Military, Public Expression, ramadan, Religion, religious freedom, vincent brooks
According to a Navy release, Muslim Sailors aboard the USS Harry S Truman were able to celebrate the end of Ramadan while on their cruise. The US Navy followed standard policies on religious accommodation, and provided meals especially for the observant Sailors, as described by the Truman‘s Chaplain:
“Whatever a person’s religious background, the Navy’s policy is to accommodate that person’s religious needs,” said Cmdr. Jerome Hinson…”We are able to arrange meals for them before sunrise and after sunset. Depending on their work schedules, we accommodate their needs as much as we can.”
The Sailors themselves spoke positively about the Navy’s support of their religious Read more…
According to a State Department press release, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will host an Iftar on September 7th. The meal breaks the Islamic day-long fast that is continuous for the month of Ramadan. The US Army has also supported Iftars in Iraq.
Meanwhile, separate official Army press releases, complete with graphic banners, announce the upcoming Jewish celebrations of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The articles explain the meaning behind the holy days.
Religious freedom in America, and its military, at work.
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