A Soldier's Shofar In Afghanisatan

Judith Field - Thursday 8th April 2010


Jews don't just serve in the idf. A thriving community of anglo-jewish troops is enlisted in both iraq and afghanistan. Judith Field speaks to some of them about the challenges ­ and perils ­ of observing their religion on the frontline...

What do you think of when you see the words "Jewish servicemen and women"?
The IDF? British veterans from the Second World War? Jews don't serve in the forces now there's no National Service, do they? Yes, they do, and there is a growing Jewish community of a few hundred, serving today, in all operational theatres of conflict.

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The Armed Forces Jewish Community (AFJC) fills the community function of a normal synagogue with chaplaincy providing the spiritual, ritual and welfare functions.

You can find the AFJC, if you know where to look, like in Wales in July when, as they have done for some time, small groups of Jewish servicemen will be supporting RSY summer camps.

The AFJC also provides youth leadership training for Bnei Brith Youth Organisation and Young Limmud, to complement the leadership development that these organisations already do. It gives the students the chance to see a very different style and grow from it.

The AFJC consider themselves an extended family who are proud of their British and Jewish identities.

Last week they were busy putting together Pesach parcels containing matzah, a haggadah and other goodies, for troops who might be far from their families and any Jewish community because they are on operations or overseas postings.
Daniel, aged 28, is the community chairman of the AFJC. Originally from London, he is a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy working as an air engineering officer. He joined the Navy straight from school: "I had a great time in the Combined Cadet Force, but cadets were the lowest of the low. I decided I wanted to be in charge." The Navy sponsored his university studies in aerospace engineering and French. He's completed two stints in Iraq (where all three branches of the Forces serve), looking after jets and the helicopters used to recover injured personnel.

To highlight the role of the military within the Jewish community and in support of Armed Forces Day and Armed Forces Shabbat on 26 June, the Chief Rabbi published a prayer for members of HM Armed Forces for all UK synagogues.
Even so, our Jewish personnel do not enjoy the same moral support from the community as American Jewish servicemen and women do, so many people do not know they exist.

Daniel revealed an incident at Limmud, where he had given a talk about the AFJC. "Somebody stopped me the next day and said did I know I'd caused a security scare? I had been in uniform with a Limmud pass in clear view, but someone reported me to the CST, thinking I was a psycho dressed up to kill Jews.

"It really bothered me to get that kind of reaction, that the British uniform should evoke such a negative response. It underlines the importance of raising the profile of Jews in the military, to make it seem less unusual, that we do wear the uniform." So how does being a Jewish serviceman work in practice? "It very difficult to keep kosher. Even if you are vegetarian there are no guarantees that the dishes haven¹t touched non-kosher meat. We're working with the chaplain to re-introduce kosher ration packs." And Shabbat? "Personnel can get time off for Shabbat and festivals if their commanders feel that they can give it, but they have every right to say that the military requires you for duty or on exercise so you might not be excused.

"The same applies to everyone, including Christians and Muslims. But usually, if it¹s really important (like the High Holy Days) you can swap with someone or ask for a dispensation." For Daniel, joining the Israeli forces instead was never an option.

"The main point is that I am British, not Israeli. Also, although the Israeli military is hugely operational it's only focused in one small area.
"By joining the UK military you can experience a much broader series of operations and environments and work with different forces worldwide." Would Daniel be prepared to fight against Israel? "I am in the British military and I don't get a choice. If I refuse to fight I go to prison.

"The reality is that if I felt that the government of the day was fighting an immoral war I would leave the military ­ whatever countries were involved, not just Israel." There are Jews in all three branches of the armed forces. Euan, 27, originally from Aberdeen, is a captain in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

He has served as an Armoured Infantry Platoon Commander in Iraq and has completed major exercises abroad, from Malawi to Cyprus and Canada. He had an army career as his ambition from an early age, "ever since my grandfather bought me my first commando comic".

He has been in the army for six years, since graduating in applied physics and information systems.

He said: "I've worked with some of the finest individuals in the UK and Commonwealth. Being able to command them is the highest privilege I can imagine and there¹s nothing I¹d rather be doing." He has encountered no anti-Semitism, only curiosity and well-meaning questions about Judaism.

"The army are very accommodating, like on Yom Kippur when I wear trainers instead of my usual army boots." During festivals, when he is home, he goes to the nearest synagogue which sometimes involves many hours' travel. During Pesach he was on pre-tour leave visiting friends and going on a 24-hour hike to try to recreate a UK version of the Israelites¹ wandering in the desert. After Pesach he is being deployed to Afghanistan as a Dari interpreter to train the Afghan National Army to protect their country's security.

He anticipates still being in Afghanistan at Rosh Hashanah, when he will join in services with American Jewish soldiers, if there are any nearby.
But whether he ends up on his own or not, he is prepared: "I will be taking a shofar with me ­ it'll be a long time since it will have been heard in Afghanistan".

Should Jews serving in Arab countries hide their identity? There is no "party line" on what to do and it is a matter of personal choice. Some servicemen have made a point of putting the letter J, for Jewish, on their dog tags but others have left the space blank. Euan feels that it could make things harder if the Afghan people knew a serviceman were Jewish, "at the very least because they might not listen to you".

There are other difficulties. "They think that Jews are either Israeli or American and won't believe that a British soldier can be Jewish they think we're all Christians. They respect Jesus as a prophet of Islam and you'd think they would respect the Torah as well.

"But most people simply can't separate Judaism from Israel, which they see as the enemy." But Euan, for one, will certainly not be denying his faith. As he says: "Let them do their worst."

- To find out more about the Armed Forces Jewish Community and how you can support them contact afjc@armymail.mod.uk

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