As members of the Jewish faith around the globe celebrate the head of year 5778, we offer to them a traditional New Year's blessing that "this year may be as sweet as apples dipped in honey - rich with wisdom, joy, prosperity, and love."
As we read various accounts of the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, we will doubtless see mention of rabbis who have been mobilized by the various branches of our Armed Services. These chaplains travel to distant duty stations to provide for members of their faith during this time of celebration and worship.
As we consider this phenomenon, it serves us well not to take such happenings for granted. In fact, presence of Jewish chaplains in our midst came about only after a president intervened directly with congress to ensure the law regarding chaplains was broad enough to cover the "principle of religious liberty" and the "constitutional rights of the Jewish community".
As the nation geared for war in July of 1861, the Congress of the United States adopted a bill permitting each regiment's commander, on vote of his field officers, to appoint a chaplain of their choosing as long as he was "a regularly ordained minister of some Christian denomination." One non-Jew in Congress protested the vote. Representative Clement L. Vallandigham of Ohio argued that the Jewish population of the United States deserved to have rabbis minister to Jewish soldiers. He also believed the law endorsed Christianity as the official religion of the United States and was thus, blatantly unconstitutional.
During Rosh Hashanah that same year, the 65th Regiment of the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry was stations on the outskirts of Washington. The regiment was commanded by a Jewish colonel and had elected Michael Allen as their chaplain. Allen was a Hebrew School teacher, not a rabbi, but served all the soldiers of his regiment. (His account of celebrating the holiday may be found
here).
A Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) worker, who visited the 65th in October, discovered a Jew was serving as their chaplain and filed a complaint with the Army. Allen was forced to resign. The Colonel and officers then elected the Reverend Arnold Fischel to replace Allen seeking to have an ordained rabbi as their chaplain. The Secretary of War rejected Fischel's application.
Working with other advocates, Fischel continued to press his case and eventually won an audience with President Abraham Lincoln. During his time speaking with Lincoln, Fischel explained he had come to
"contend for the principle of religious liberty, for the constitutional rights of the Jewish community, and for the welfare of the Jewish volunteers." Lincoln promised Fischel he would submit a new law to Congress.
On July 17, 1862, Congress adopted Lincoln's proposals and changed the chaplaincy law to allow "the appointment of brigade chaplains of the Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish religions."
We know a chaplaincy today in which each chaplains who serves is endorsed as willing "to function in a pluralistic environment, as defined in this Instruction, and is willing to support directly and indirectly the free exercise of religion by all members of the Military Services, their family members, and other persons authorized to be served by the military chaplaincies." (DoDI 1304.28).
This has not always been the case. We enjoy this understanding and acceptance only after many have fought to correct abuses and seek the recognition. due them in accord with our law and our principles.
To all who celebrate this day, may you have a good and sweet year.
Lyman Smith
Executive Director
