Note: The views expressed in this section are the views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force or their respective military academies.
A Family Tradition
Matthew Moosey, Cadet Private, United States Military Academy–West Point
Public service is in my blood. I am a third-generation soldier; both my father and grandfather (may he rest in peace) were highly decorated combat veterans. My father distinguished himself throughout his career as a Special Forces (Green Beret) Sergeant Major fighting in El Salvador and Panama. (At least those are the battles I know about.) I live to serve others, and particularly my nation.
Before joining the army, I was a firefighter for three years while attending high school in my hometown of Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2000, I contracted with the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at the New Mexico Military Institute where I was a student to improve my chances of admission to West Point. I then spent a year in the 7th Calvary before coming to the United States Military Academy in the summer of 2001.
Judaism is very clear on the importance of service. Hillel said that the greatest commandment and the essence of all Torah was to love your neighbor as yourself. I consider military service the right way for me to do this. I can certainly say that being Jewish inspired me all the more to take on the challenge of military service.
As a modern day Jewish soldier I can say that the United States Army does everything it can to accommodate the practice of Judaism. Judaism is flexible and personal enough that balancing halakha and my duties as a cadet comes relatively easily. Our leaders in the chain of command are very receptive and sensitive to our needs. I have never been discriminated against or put into an uncomfortable situation because of my faith.
Jewish life here is vibrant. At the US Military Academy we have a very active and close-knit Jewish community. We have both men and women, we are of different ethnicities (our rabbi is Sephardic, as am I), and we come from all walks of life.
The Jewish cadets work as a family and a team to support both the mission of the Academy and our personal goals of being successful and complete Jewish adults. We are also fortunate that we can turn to Judaism as an escape from the monotony of our normal duties. Our rabbi, Dr. Carlos Huerta, Major, Field Artillery, is a phenomenal man, soldier, and rabbi. He inspires all of us to be good citizens, patriots, and Jews. We are very fortunate to have him.
I honestly hope more American Jewish youth will serve in the military. Military service is not a foreign idea to us, as our counterparts in Israel must give two years compulsory service, and we should step up to the call like our gentile friends and neighbors.
Learning and Serving
Heather L. Guzik, First Class Cadet, United States Air Force Academy-Colorado Springs
Jewish life at the Air Force Academy is not normal compared to other colleges. We are studying to become officers in the United States Air Force, so we have to adapt to an environment that is not predominantly Jewish.
It is not the easiest task here at the Academy to balance my religion with my military duties. I sit at the vegetarian table because it is the easiest way to keep kosher. Friday nights are not easy to keep free when the entire wing is training, but I make the commitment to go to services.
The community among the cadets here at the Air Force Academy is strong. The cadets look to each other for support as well as guidance. Being Jewish here has made me realize that many people do not know what Judaism is about, and also that many people are interested in learning what I believe in. If this is an example of what our future officers are going to be like, I am proud to serve with these people in the United States Air Force.
A Long History
Daniel Isaac Helmer, Cadet Sergeant, United States Military Academy–West Point
I am the Hillel president at the United States Military Academy. Cadets who attend the Academy receive free education, including a rigorous liberal arts academic program, a military development program, and a physical development program. Cadets graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission into the active duty Army as a second lieutenant. Graduates then owe the Army five years of active duty service.
Many people remain unaware of the long American military history of the Jewish people. Two hundred years ago, in 1802, the US Military Academy graduated its first class of two students. One of them, Simon Levy, was Jewish. Since that time, Jews have been an integral part of the history of the Military Academy. In the 1980s, the West Point Jewish Chapel, a beautiful $10 million facility, was opened. This year, in honor of 200 years of Jewish history at the Military Academy, the Jewish Chapel is building a commemorative wall to record and recognize all of the Jewish graduates of West Point.
Currently there are about 70 Jews at the Military Academy out of a student population of approximately 4,000. We have a very active Jewish population and are beginning to sponsor numerous Jewish activities. Jewish students from other schools have visited West Point twice this year, once for a “Weekend of the Jewish Warrior” and the second time for a Hanukkah party. Both activities attracted numerous students from other colleges and universities in New York. We also have a West Point Jewish Chapel Choir, which has performed all over the East Coast.
I truly hope that civilian Jewish college students will become more aware of both their contemporaries in uniform and their rich military heritage.
Finding Judaism at Annapolis
Greg E. Saxon, Midshipman, United States Naval Academy–Annapolis
My Jewish identity did not play a role in my decision to become a midshipman at the United State Naval Academy. In fact, I converted to Judaism after I got here. I was raised Catholic, but I was overwhelmed by the total sense of community and religion of the Orthodox Jewish tradition, and began studying with a local rabbi. I officially converted last spring.
Although we are fortunate to have a Jewish chaplain here at the Academy, a Jewish midshipman club that sponsors activities and dinners, and a very loving and supportive community, the military is difficult for anyone with specific religious needs. Observing the Sabbath or trying to keep kosher is very difficult when only about four percent of the total population is Jewish and accommodating your needs is not at the top of anyone’s list. This is probably one of the biggest difficulties for me here.
That said, the Naval Academy has been a great place to learn about myself. At a time when I have had to adapt in ways that I have never had to before, I have been fortunate to find great comfort in Judaism. And as can be expected, following the attacks of September 11, the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at the Academy had a deeper meaning. Being a part of something so large, like the military, and also something so small, such as the Jewish community here, allows me to experience so many great and interesting things.
Balancing Commitments
Aron Michael Rotklein, Midshipman, United States Naval Academy–Annapolis
My mother is an Israeli who fought in the Israeli air force during the Six-Day War and my father was an American Jew who served as an officer in the US Army for a few years before becoming an American diplomat. Growing up, I was taught about the importance of the military and the great opportunities that it can provide. At an early age I made the decision to do everything I could to attend one of this co
untry’s service academies.
Jewish life here on “the yard,” as we at the United States Naval Academy call our campus, is pretty typical of other college campuses. We observe Shabbat and all the other holidays, and the school is very respectful of some of our special needs as Jews.
Juggling an intense class schedule and the demands of being a varsity wrestler, however, it is often hard for me to find time to balance my religion with my other commitments. I make a point to pray every night on my own, but I find it difficult to make many of the organized prayer sessions and Jewish club meetings provided for us by our terrific rabbi, Commander Irving Elson, United States Navy.
