ORA L HIS TOR Y T RAN SC RIP T
CAPTAIN JOSHUA LOUIS GOLDBERG
CHAPLAIN CORPS, U. S. NAVY (RETIRED)
Commander H. Lawrence Martin
Chaplain Corps, U. S. Navy
Interviewer
ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM Chaplain Corps United States Navy
1980
4 in Series FOREWORD Having come to the United States from Russia during the time of the First World War and having served as an enlisted person in the U. S. Army 1917-20, Joshua L. Goldberg in time became the third person to serve as a Jewish chaplain in the U. S. Navy and the first Jewish chaplain to have a full ac tive duty career. That career began at 90 Church Street, New York City, and it ended there. From that single location, first as a member of the staff of the Third Naval District, and later as district chaplain, Chaplain Goldberg exerted an influence throughout the naval chaplaincy and beyond. He was chiefly responsible for "The Navy Goes to Church" radio program which conveyed to millions of people the concern of the Navy for the spiritual welfare of its personnel. During the period 8 March 1944 to 20 May 1944, Chaplain Goldberg and Catholic Chaplain John R. Boslet accompanied then Chief of Chaplains Robert D. Workman on a 28,000 mile tour of naval installations in the Caribbean, South America, North Africa, and the United Kingdom. This trip was characterized by many expressions of interfaith cooperation. In the summer of 1944 Chaplain Goldberg assisted Maurice M. Witherspoon in developing a practical field training program forV-12 theological students attending Princeton and Union. The next summer his forty-page book, Ministering to Jews in the
ii ~, was published. This well-received work assisted non Jewish chaplains ministering in the absence of Jewish chaplains. Chaplain Goldberg had additional duty to the Eastern Sea Frontier, to Marine Corps Reserve units of the Third Naval Dis trict, and as a special consultant to the Armed Forces Chap lains Board. For many years he served capably and admirably as an advisor and consultant to the Chaplains Division of the Bureau of Naval Personnel on matters pertaining to the work of . Jewish chaplains. As a special representative of the Chief of Naval Opera tions, Chaplain Goldberg made a trip to Israel concerning matters of a delicate nature and with important implications in the area of international understanding. Chaplain Goldberg was awarded a Letter of Commendation with Ribbon; the Four Chaplains Award by the Alexander D. Goode Lodge, B'nai B'rith; and the Legion of Merit. For several years after his retirement, Chaplain Goldberg went to Naples at his own expense to conduct Jewish worship for American military personnel there during the high holy days. Re has also traveled and spoken extensively in furtherance of the work of the Chaplain Corps. With pleasure we issue this volume of oral history in the hope that it will enhance knowledge of and appreciation for the accomplishments of Chaplain Goldberg and further the work to which he unstintingly gave so much 9~ his time. Cf~·~ ROSS R. TROWER Rear Admiral, CRC, USN Chief of Chaplains
iii PREFACE
This volume contains the reminiscences of Joshua L.
Goldberg, reflecting his personal recollection at the time of the interview. No attempt has been made to confirm the his torical accuracy of the statements made.
The reader is reminded that he is reading a transcript of the spoken word. The interviewee has had the opportunity to make slight additions, deletions, and changes as desired, prin cipally in the interest of accuracy; and the editor has made minimal, although importan~, revision, largely in the interest of clarity; but no attempt has been made to arrive at a polished literary style. Editorial notes are made in brackets. In this way also, when feasible, the first names and middle initials have been supplied in first or sole instances where persons are mentioned by their last names only.
The Table of Contents and the Index are calculated to make the work more readily available to researchers whose interests may be limited.
Copies of this interview will be deposited in several research locations:
Naval Historical Center Operational Archives Branch Building 210 Washington Navy Yard Washington, DC 20374
iv Marine Corps Historical Center Attn: Oral History Building 58 Washington Navy Yard Washington, DC 20374
Director Chaplain Resource Board Building Z-357 Naval Station Norfolk, VA 23511
Director Chaplains School Naval Education and Training Center Newport, RI 02840
Head, Special Collections Nimitz Library U.S. Naval Academy Annapolis, MD 21402
Director of Oral History U.S. Naval Institute Annapolis, MD 21402
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research 1048 5th Avenue New York, NY 10028
During the donor's lifetime, the donor retains all copy right in the material. Thereafter, the copyright in both the transcript and tape recording shall be assigned to the Chaplain
Corps of the Navy, acting on behalf of the United States.
While oral history will never supplant written history, it does have its advantages: (1) it presents the human element;
(2) it enlists the contribution of many who would never write;
(3) it gets behind the scenes, telling the why and the how as well as the when and the where; (4) it provides clues for addi tional research; and (5) it supplements other collection methods.
It is hoped that this oral history transcript will be a worthwhile contribution in one or more q'f these ways. ~_."" ~~. 2.~~~"'~D~~\;J.·jo
v TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD • . . ii Rear Admiral Ross H. Trower Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy Chief of Chaplains
PREFACE. • • . . • • iv LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS •• x
SUMMARY OF LIFE AND CAREER . xii
SESSION ONE: 26 October 1980
INTRODUCTION • 1
Birth in Russia and Coming to America--Service in the U.S. Army During World War I--Early Career as a Teacher--Trips to Europe--the Rabbinate
SERVICE DURING WORLD WAR II.• 5
A Commission in the Naval Chaplaincy--Reporting to the Staff of the Third Naval District (January 1942)--the Helpfulness of Chaplain John J. Brady- Chaplain to Midshipmen at Columbia University- Ministering to WAVES in Hunter College--Additional Duty to the Eastern Sea Frontier--Ministering to Coast Guard Personnel--Designing a Jewish Prayer Shawl--Work With Marine Corps Reserve Units--Moral Leadership--the Book Ministering to Jews in the ~--Special Mission to the CaribDean-- -
SERVICE DURING WORLD WAR II (CONTINUED). . • 14
Dedication of the Jewish Chapel at Camp Perry, Virginia--Work With Chaplain Maurice M. Witherspoon in the V-12 Program--Radio Program, "The Navy Goes to Church"--Tour With Chief of Chaplains Robert D. Workman--the untimely Death of Chaplain John J. Robinson--A Plea for Ecumenism
vi SESSION TWO: 27 October 1980
MINISTERING WITH MATURITY .• 24
Promotions--Firmness with the Commandant Regarding Scheduling of Worship--the Case of the Wife Who Claimed Neglect--On Counseling With Wives of De ployed Personnel--the Incident of the Electric Organ--the Handling of Money for Counselees--the Need for Professional Development--the Advantage of Previous Experience--the Need to Minister to All Persons--the Personal Influence of Other Chap~ lains: Workman, Salisbury, Drury--A Letter of Commendation--Consultant and Advisor to the Chief of Chaplains Regarding Jewish Affairs--Consultant to the Armed Forces Chaplains Board--Four Chap lains Award--Mission to Israel--Legion of Merit Award--Friendship with Milton E. Miles
REFLECTIONS IN RETIREMENT. • • • . 44
Lecturing at Chaplains School, Williamsburg, Virginia, in an Ecumenical Setting--Ecumenical Practice in the Civilian PUlpit, Including Greek Orthodox--An Illustration from Schiller--the Need for Personal and Professional Growth--The Issue of Kosher Food in Ships--"I Don't Like the Word 'Retirement'"--Post-Retirement Visits to Naples to Minister During High Holy Days--Remembrance of Certain Individuals--Citation as An Outstanding Clergyman By the International Civitan Organiza tion and Impression Made Upon Goldberg by James B. Irwin--the Need for Realistic Aspiration on the Part of Chaplains
SESSION THREE: 28 October 1980
THE JEWISH CHAPLAINCY. • 52
Insignia--Should Jewish Chaplains Go to Sea?- Collateral Duties--Awarded the Medal of Valor By the Jewish War Veterans--t~e Jewish Pennant- the Proposal of a NATO Navy Chaplains Conference- the Shortage of Jewish Chaplains--Ministry in a Secular Society--No Personal Regrets Regarding Ministry
THE CHAPLAINCY IN GENERAL. • • . . • . . • • 67
On Nurturing Younger Chaplains--Helping Chaplains to Handle Difficulties and Complaints on the Part of Naval Personnel and Their Dependents--the Chap laincies of Other Nations in Cornparison--the Need
vii for Change in Organizational Placement of the Chap lain Corps and the Chief of Chaplains--Attitudes of Some Academy Graduates Toward Chaplains. Because of Compulsory Chapel Attendance--Need for Protection of the Chaplain with Valid Complaints--Cooperation With Commanding Officers in the Context of Eccle siastical Expectations
RETIREMENT AND BEYOND. . 80
Notice of Impending Retirement in the Third Dis trict Newsletter--Response from the National Jewish Welfare Board--Letters from Individual Chaplains- Retirement Dinner at the Officers Club in Brooklyn- Continued Association with the Navy--Time for Study and Thought--the Place of Wife and Family in the Chaplain's Life--Family Members Left Behind the Iron Curtain--Others Needing Help--the Importance of . Caring for One's Health--A Challenge to Intellectual Pursuit--the Necessity of Love for Others--Conclud ing Remarks
~PPENDIX
LETTERS OF APPRECIATION
From Secretary of the Navy Charles Thomas . • . •. 88 From President Harry Truman for a copy of the Invocation delivered at Four Freedoms Dinner (1953) ...... 89
AWARD CITATIONS
Commendation Ribbon . . 90 Legion of Merit ... 91 Four Chaplains Award. 92
LETTERS OF CONGRATULATION
From Admiral Arleigh Burke on the occasion of Chaplain Goldberg's receiving the Four Chap lains Award...... 93
From Chief of Chaplains John J. O'Connor upon the occasion of Chaplain 'Goldberg's eightieth birthday ...... 94
LETTERS CONCERNING RETIREMENT
Chaplain Goldberg's Announcement of Retirement. 95 Letter from Samuel Sobel.•.. 96 Letter from the National Jewish Welfare Board . 97 Letter from Bertram W. Korn . 98
INDEX...... 99
viii LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS
1. CAPTAIN JOSHUA L. GOLDBERG, CHC, USNR (RETIRED) AGE 75...... •.•....• ...... x
2. ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, THE MOST REVEREND WILLIAM TEMPLE, RECEIVES UNITED STATES NAVAL CHAPLAINS .•.• 20-A
Left to right: Chaplains Robert D. Workman, Joshua L. Goldberg; Archbishop Temple; Chaplains F. R. Williams, F. H. Lash, J. R. Boslet
3. CHAPLAIN JOSHUA L. GOLDBERG, 1956 RECIPIENT OF THE FOUR CHAPLAINS AWARD, PRESENTS THE FOUR CHAPLAINS AWARD JOURNAL TO ADMIRAL WILLIAM F. HALSEY •..••• 37-A
Left to right: Army Chief of Chaplains Patrick J. Ryan, Chaplain Goldberg, Admiral Halsey, Navy Chief of Chaplains Edward B. Harp, Jr., Air Force Chief of Chaplains Major General Charles I. Carpenter
4. CHAPLAIN GOLDBERG (CENTER) IS HONORED BY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS . • • • • • . . 49-A
ix x
See page lX. A SUMMARY OF THE LIFE AND CAREER OF JOSHUA L. GOLDBERG
Birth Bobrouisk, province of Minsk, Russia, 6 January 1896
Education Herzeliah College, Palestine, 1914 University of Odessa, Russia; B.S., 1916 Jewish Institute of Religion, New York, New York; M.H.L., 1926 Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York; D.D. (Honorary), 1951
Marriac;e Henr~etta C. Davis, 22 August 1948
Ordination Jewish Institute of Religion, 1926
Civilian Ministry Rabbi, Astoria Center of Israel, Long Island, New York, 1926-42; Rabbi Emeritus, 1948
Prior Active Military Service U.S. Army (Enlisted), 1917-20
Active Commissioned Service 8 January 1942--1 January 1960 Promotion History commissioned Lieutenant, CHC, USNR, 27 December 1941 Lieutenant Commander, 1 March 1944 Commander, 5 November 1945 Captain, 1 July 1952
Duty Assignments ~ird Naval District, January 1942--July 1949 District Chaplain, Third Naval District, July 1949--January 1960
Awards and Decorations Legion-0f Merit (1960) Letter of Commendation with Ribbon Four Chaplains Award (1956) by A. D. Goode Lodge, B'nai B'rith Medal for International Cooperation from the French government with the rank of commander Medal of Valor, Jewish War Veterans
Retirement 1 January 1960 xi