Email Report Regarding Jewish Troops at Ft. Benning
I was very pleased to receive this email from Jean Kent, who gave me permission to post it here:
I do not know if you are aware of what is happening at Ft. Benning, GA with the Jewish troops.
Under lay leadership led by retired Navy Captain Neil Block from the Columbus, Georgia, Jewish community and occasional rabbinic support, participation at weekly services passes 200 now! This is probably the largest lay-lead program in the United States for the Army.
Each week a brunch is supplied (by Army rules, all services have to be on Sunday morning.). The Jewish Federation of Columbus supplies the lox, bagels, cream cheese and drinks while the local women provide all of the sweets.
Temple Israel provides freezer and refrigerator space so there is a home for all cakes and cookies to be used by this program—at last a good use for all of the extras after onegs, special events in the community.In addition the women have bake nights to make cakes and cookies.
The Federation has received several thousand dollars from soldiers and their families from across the country in support of this worthwhile program.Most of this money is being used to buy Army-approved siddurs for the soldiers to take overseas with them.
Jean Kiralfy Kent
Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Columbus
Co-President, Jewish Ladies Aid Society of Temple Israel
Some minor clarification:
The Sunday AM service is part of the schedule for BASIC TRAINING troops, not the army in general. Basic trainees have a very restricted and compact schedule with little to no flexibility. All other army troops may attend worship services of their choice at whatever time and place they choose. Basic training lasts for only 11 to 14 weeks after which a new cadre of troops arrives. Approximately 1,000 troops per year rotate through the Jewish Program.
If not for Jewish Federation of Columbus, a relatively tiny community, it would be impossible to sustain this worthwhile and impacting program.
Thanks to the Federation and its supporters.
Neil Block
Captain, US Navy, Retired
US Naval Academy 1961