Last week President Barack Obama hosted the annual White House Hanukkah reception with Vice President Biden. The West Point Jewish Chapel Cadet Choir performed at the event. Obama specifically mentioned the military in his statement:
Let’s think about those who are spending this holiday far away from home -– including members of our military who guard Read more
Menashe Miller is the Mayor of Lakewood Township in New Jersey. He is also a US Air Force Chaplain. A local news report covers his temporary displacement as Mayor so he can deploy over the Jewish holidays to support Jewish servicemembers in the war zone:
A farewell ceremony was held for the unsuspecting mayor at his final committee meeting for the year on Thursday. Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein organized a performance of the “Star Spangled Banner” as well as a Jewish Read more
JewsinGreen notes that KosherTroops.com, an external ministry to US servicemembers, has begun collecting names to receive their care packages in support of the upcoming holiday of Chanukah (Hanukkah), which will be celebrated from 20-28 December this year.
The packages must be delivered to individuals or chaplains, so those interested should contact them through their website to sign up.
In a somewhat long but interesting article first published in the Jewish Exponent and republished by the Army, 1LT Avi Behar, a 23-year-old Army Lieutenant, recalls a day in Afghanistan in which he had an epiphany about religion and relationships both in the US military and the Afghan Army.
Earlier in the day, with the help of an Afghan General, his unit helped a local get his truck, overloaded with his produce, unstuck from the side of the road. Later, he came back to base to celebrate Chanukah:
Upon returning that night…our battalion chaplain put together a Chanukah service. We had discussed the idea a few days prior, but I wasn’t expecting what I was about to experience. Read more
Marine Corps Base Quantico recently announced it will be lighting the base “holiday tree” next week.
No word yet on whether they will also have a “holiday candelabrum.”
As previously noted, there is no military policy on public holiday celebrations on military facilities, though they are fairly common. While some have generic “holiday” events, other bases have not obscured the celebratory purposes, including Scott AFB, Illinois, Peterson AFB, CO, and Nellis AFB in Nevada:
The traditional Nellis AFB Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting ceremony will be Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m., at the Chapel.
It appears the Capitol Christmas tree also remains traditionally named.
For the record, the Menorah lighting will actually be late. While many people think Hanukkah and Christmas coincide, the Jewish celebration actually started on December 1st this year.