Former Jewish Navy Personnel Says It’s Lonely for a Jew in the Military
Below is an email I received from Leonard Jablon. He expresses the feelings of a Jew serving in the military so well that I received his permission to publish his email here. (The boldface is mine.):
My name is Leonard Jablon, and I would love to help you in your quest to help Jews in the military. Currently, I am a teacher in California, and I am a member of Congregation B’nai Tzedek of Fountain Valley, CA. Our rabbi e-mailed your link to our congregation.
Here is a little background information, which may be of help to you:
I served in the U.S. Navy from 85-91, and I know just how lonely a Jew can feel when away from home for long periods of time. I was onboard the USS New Jersey BB-62, a battleship based out of Long Beach, CA. I was the Jewish lay leader on board that ship for my last 2 years in the navy.
I worked closely with the chaplains on board my ship, and I even held a Passover seder on board the Jersey. When we visited other countries, I always made a point of visiting other shuls, and I was warmly greeted in Brisbane and Sydney, Australia, as well as Tazmania.
In the U.S., when visiting Portland, OR, for the Rose Festival, I even stayed with a fellow service member at his home (he was a captain in the army).
I am still in touch with a close friend who was my rabbi while I was stationed at Great Lakes, IL, for training. He is a former chaplain of Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC, and he also happened to officiate at my wedding a year after I left the navy.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience as to how I can help with your organization.
And here’s where I’d like to add that I don’t have an organization. I only have this website that I hope will serve as an information center to encourage the American Jewish community to reach out to Jews stationed on bases with no Jewish chaplains. (There’s a severe shortage of Jewish chaplains in all branches of the U.S. military.)
Use the LOCATE NEARBY MILITARY BASES feature of this site to find bases near you, and then contact the bases to find out about Jewish personnel there.
Greetings Shipmate,
First off I Peter M Michelson (Pincus Mendel) and I am a Proud USN Chief Petty Officer who just happens to be a VERY PROUD Jewish Sailor and Chief. I have served our Great Country for 20 years and 6 months.
1. THe Navy is not for everyone.
2. If you have a driven personelity then the Navy is for you.
3. STOP THE BLOODY CRYING. I have served my country and love being Jewish all the way long. I am a Sephardic Danish Jew. My entire family fort against the Nazis and saved Jewish Lives.
4. Are you not resoureful enough to take care of your own needs.
5. In the 20 yrs and 6 months of being in serves to our Country I have traveled to 74 different countries, deployed on ship for 6 months four times, have been deployed as a dirty sailor on 5 Seabee World Field Exercises, and have been in every conflict since the first gulf war. So please if you cannot or do not want to take care of yourself, provide for yourself and manage your Jewish Life as you manage your U.S> Naval Carrer so not expect non-Jews to provide for you.
6. It alone lonely if you are a sad sack and cry why me. You are suppose to be smarter the the average joe so open your mind. If there are not services Then you make it your respeonsiblity to make for yourself, find the resorces that are in the area, become a Jewish Lay Leader and teach those around you the beauty of a Jewish life, The real meaning of being Jewish so what the non-Jew, and Gentile have heard can be disbelled.
7. In closing do not cry to others so they will feel sorry for you. Take the above as a genuine real Chief Petty Officer butt chewing. People like you give Outstanding Professional Sailors like myself a bad name.
V/r
GMC(SW/SCW) Peter M Michelson(Pincus Mendel) Totally Active Duty
Well Gunner,
Evidently you did not understand what I was writing about. Let me set you straight, shipmate! I am extremely proud of being a Jew, and of having served in the U.S.N. I was referring to my spiritual affect. It can be very lonely for a practicing Jew, when being deployed, and also among shipmates who just don’t understand you, or share your common values and beliefs. I was also quite resourceful in contacting other Jews around the world, while I was in the military. Finally, speaking of being smarter than the “average Joe,” I suggest you check your grammar and spelling before putting something on the internet, for all the world to see.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Gunner……
L.Jablon
Leonard Jablon…….Well Said!…..I am just an ordinary civilian who just happen to come across this blog……I couldn’t be prouder of you!!!!!…..My respects and many thanks of keeping the world a safe place for it’s citizens….
Yes, I too was a sailor from 1975-1979 (active) 1979-1989 (active reserve). I spent all of my time aboard various Tin Cans. I’m not Kvetching, just telling you that it is a very difficult thing to be a “New York Jew” among a ship of “Red Neck Grits”. The first 6 months the anti-semitism was absolutely brutal. Prove yourself and most people will leave you alone. Then there is always one that unfortunately you have to really stand up to. As a BT, it is all about knowing what you can do, and proof that you can hold your own. DESPITE the USMJ…Commanders back in the day didn’t want to hear it or just looked the other way.
In 1976 I was the only Jew on my ship of 397, we were in our homeport of Charleston, SC and not scheduled to depart anytime soon. I requested leave to go home for Passover (no base Chaplin ever contacted me and I did not reach out to them for community resources). The leave was denied….GIVE ME A BREAK….1 man of 397 and although I had leave on the books…I couldn’t go home.
I learned to love my time in the Navy, it was a turning point in my life. I have been a Special Education teacher for the past 22 years. I work hard, still get up early, and go to my annual Navy reunions.
Yes, I too was a sailor from 1975-1979 (active) 1979-1989 (active reserve). I spent all of my time aboard various Tin Cans. I’m not Kvetching, just telling you that it is a very difficult thing to be a “New York Jew” among a ship of “Red Neck Grits”. The first 6 months the anti-semitism was absolutely brutal. Prove yourself and most people will leave you alone. Then there is always one that unfortunately you have to really stand up to. As a BT, it is all about knowing what you can do, and proof that you can hold your own. DESPITE the UCMJ…Commanders back in the day didn’t want to hear it or just looked the other way.
In 1976 I was the only Jew on my ship of 397, we were in our homeport of Charleston, SC and not scheduled to depart anytime soon. I requested leave to go home for Passover (no base Chaplin ever contacted me and I did not reach out to them for community resources). The leave was denied….GIVE ME A BREAK….1 man of 397 and although I had leave on the books…I couldn’t go home.
I learned to love my time in the Navy, it was a turning point in my life. I have been a Special Education teacher for the past 22 years. I work hard, still get up early, and go to my annual Navy reunions.
I Meant UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) not USMJ sorry for the typo
Mark:
I totally sympathize with you. Even though I didn’t encounter “command” sponsored anti-semitism, I had a few people I had to “prove” myself to as well! Yet, one of the four Captains I served under was Jewish, and he didn’t even bother to come to a Passover Seder I had onboard our ship. He sent the non-Jewish XO instead! Ironic, huh?
As Jews in the Navy, we had to be resourceful, strong, tolerant, and just plain ingenious, to get along with a lot of the types of people we encountered.
I also admire you for being a “special ed” teacher for 22 years. I am also a teacher, for the past 14 years, and I know how difficult it is to work with “normal” kids, let alone children of special needs. Keep up the good work!
Mark and Leonard —
Thank you both for your comments here. I really appreciate that you shared your experiences.
When my husband and I were stationed with the U.S. Army in Munich, Germany, we were lucky to be with an intelligence unit. I remember another Jewish officer and his wife stationed at a troop base in Germany who weren’t allowed leave to travel to a base with other Jews to attend a seder.
His superior said he could take Passover leave in July although this was totally against army regulations, which granted leave to attend religious rituals. But, as this officer said, if he had gone above his superior to get leave permission, his superior would have made him “pay” for it.
Phyllis Zimbler Miller
Can this Chief pass out the tissues for you? In this response I will use a proactive form of counseling to enlighten you all.
So if you did not fully read my reply I too was Born in Manhattan, and Raised in the Bronx. If you look on a map of New York City you will find them on there. So I am totally a Sephardic New York City Bronx Jew You all (a southern expression from my My Hampton Roads Days) have too remember the USN is not for everyone. Do you think the USN is going to part the sea for you because you are Jewish? The answer is “FORGET ABOUT IT”.
So are you tell me someone held a Gun to your head to sign the enlistment contract for 4 yrs? You chose to join, so except the responsibility that comes with it. I can feel for you all. I to have been, and to this day still am the only one single Jew in every command I served in on the last 21 yrs. Yes I am still on active duty, Still a very practicing, and very Jewish USN Chief. I also married Jewish while in the USN to keep the vows to my Parents and Family that I would “NEVER GIVE UP WHO I AM”, and serve the country I was born in as a Proud Jewish Sailor.
You all claim your from NYC well you do not act like it. People from NYC are known for how stubborn and tuff we can be, and not take anything from any body. Are you all saying you do not know how to make friends and influeance people?
The military as a whole takes in people to serve from every state and territory that belongs to the USA. I have had my share of stupid Gentiles giving me a hard time. So What!!!! You deal with it. You handle it at your level. You say your from NYC, so where is the spirit and fight that is suppose to go along with growing up and being from NYC?
Now let not label or speak any hateful speech. As a USN Chief if I here any Hate speech of any kind the verbal counseling become uncomfortable. Two negative forces repel, and nothing good will come out of it. If you meet folks that are that stupid not to understand your needs you need to find a way to educate, and befriend them. Understand this I am totally an in your face Jew. I love and respect all people. I start everyone at 100% then start subtracting. So before it gets to far out of hand I drop the hammer and handle it at my level. You also have to know how to deal with all people. Anyone that thinks they can walk into a group with out knowing the people in the group and say “I am Jewish” is asking for trouble. That move will put you in checkmate every time. Thant means there are people above your paygrade and Rank that have negative feelings about Jews. I have had this experience many times. Did I let it phase me? “Like I Said No Gentile Will Ever Stop Me From Being Jewish” . If the Holiday is supported by instruction and Military Branch Message Get the instruction and message. Attch it too the leave paperwork with leave balance from your LES and submitt. The only one who can deny your request is your CO. The CO or XO is not going to do that if it is supported by instruction or message. If they come up with that stupid line if you go you will pay. Your reply should be “I will take the payback in order to practice my religion”. This just fuels the fire for the EO. They cannot write you up. Its supported by instruction and message. My fix is very simple and has worked for me for over 21 yrs. Since I do not celibrate any Non- Jewish Holiday I take the Watch so others will be able to spend their Holiday with there families. It’s worked everytime. Even when I went to Jewish Lay-Leader training in 1996 back in Norfolk Va, I filed the request. I checked the duty schedule and made the changes so I could take the watch and those I study duty for help me out in return.
Here is the best way to do it. First you have two eyes, two ears and one mouth. The last thing that moves is your mouth. You look, lissen, and feel the body lanuage of those around you. Then process all info that is coming in. You have to learn how it all works before you can chim in. So what are you watching for: 1. What is the shops structure, 2. Who are all the players in that group you are in. 3. Who are the trouble makers in the group you as a newbie need to stay away from. 4. As a newbie you are too become part of the group and learn how to do your job; be on top of your “A” game. When you report onboard to a new command it takes about a year to find your place within the group. 5. Once you have found your place and niche, and you are liked; then you can start introducing the fact that you are Jewish to people who will look out for you. 6. You have to be proactive all the time. 7. Making friends and influancing People is the way to go. These principles work well in the civilian world. The civilian work is 100% tuffer then the Navy or any branch of the military. If you do not get along, and are able to produce on time everytime you will be fired. Not in the Military.
In the Military we Jews are a fraction of the population. I surprised no one told you that you would most likely be the only one. It was told too me hundreds of times. I chose this career path and have do a Great Job with it. 21 yrs and still active, earned many personel awards for my hard work, made life long friends of all kinds of people, Yes had Rabbi’s who looked out for me. Meaning that I had senior folks at my commands see my hard work and how dedicated I was to the mission, and watched out for my. I also met so Great Rabbi Chaplin’s who set the example. How much more can you ask for. If your going to get upset every time someone says something stupid find a new career or grow a tuff skin. It happens in the civilian world all the time. I also checked into weather the claim of not being able to celibrate Passover ever happened. From what I have seen on record and naval message that not true. When ever there is a Major Jewish Holiday Messages go out too inform everyone about the events from even the early 1970’s. Anyone that starts call people from the south Red Necks give it a rest. There are some fine Southerns and Fine Jewish Southerns all over the south. Stop the Crying. As the Navy saying goes “The Chief Knows Best”. If you think you had it tuff my MOTs’ when you are selected for Chief and go thru the Transition, and your the only one Hello only the tuff, tuff skinned and strong survive.
The Military is not for everyone, Choose wisely, and do not expect everything. Really is it so difficult to put learning your job first, being part of the TEAM, and doing everything you can to achieve all goals to meet the mission; before wanting for yourself ? In the concept of TEAMWORK there is no “I” or “YOU”. If you cannot learn that simple principle in the Military then your transition to civilian work will be very ruff indeed. For those who have had trouble in getting along I do hope your civilian lives are easier. Nothing easy is really worth anything. I do hope all have a Wonderful Passover. I do believe that our MOTs’ that join the Military are missing out on some very interesting learning lessons from our Jewish History. In this way do you think that the MOTs’ of the days of Hannukah, Purim, and Passover Kvetch because people were stupid, mean, and wanted too kill them? Oh no they fought back and won.
BZ to the Special Ed Teacher. I am and have been Dyslexic my enter life. So you make mistakes. As long as you work hard, and harder then the rest you will make it. Its really amazing that if you put in what it takes to make it you will achieve.
I do believe the Special Ed Teacher and Regular Teacher do not get it. Here’s how: If you have a class of 40 and i child is LD and 39 are not that child is going to have a tough time keeping up. Same with being Jewish in an enviorment that in Non-Jewish ie: 1 in 400, 1 in 397, 1 in 365. In the USN there are about 325,000 people. We Jews are about maybe 1%. With only 22 Rabbis Active duty and Reserve. With these stubborn facts you as a Jew need to fully understand what you are in for. Happy and Healthy Passover.
GMC(SW/SCW) Peter M Michelson
Gunner:
You are definitely something else! Why do you feel the need to attack others? It is okay to give your opinion-you have every right to do so. However, to make disparaging remarks to myself and Mr. Reiman, is very inappropriate.
Unfortunately, it is you who truly doesn’t understand what Mr. Reiman and I are trying to communicate. Neither one of us “whined,” or needed the “tissues” you have suggested we use. I was quite resourceful at doing what I needed to do, to keep my Judaism strong while I was in the Navy. I was a lay reader. I did work with Chaplains, of all faiths, I might add. You seem to be a person who prefers confrontation, while I prefer reconciliation, compassion, compromise and working together for the common good. I also took the watches on Xmas, Easter and other Christian holidays, so my shipmates could spend time with their loved ones and/or families. Unfortunately, for me, they weren’t as kind, and didn’t reciprocate when it came to the Jewish holidays! I didn’t whine about it…I used my leave, wrote chits to get the days off, etc. I did whatever it took to maintain my Jewish identity.
Yes, I knew what I was getting into when I entered the Navy. I used the Navy to gain an education I could not afford to get in the civilian world, and I am happy and proud to have served my country.
What Mr. Reiman and I are trying to do, is to educate other Jews out there, that they ARE NOT ALONE, and that we are here to help them. We aren’t here to berate them or humiliate them, like you seem to enjoy doing to me and Mr. Reiman!
I shall put this to you as nicely as I can…..please get some counseling for your “anger” issues. You shall learn that people will get along with you much better. I hope you don’t treat your family like you have treated Mr. Reiman and myself.
Sincerely,
Len Jablon
May I request that this discussion be ended now erev Shabbat in my time zone? Let us all agree that we have different opinions, and I am going to switch this blog to moderated comments as I do not wish a site dedicated to supporting Jewish military personnel to become unsupportive. I also may delete some of these comments.