THE JEWISH AMERICAN B”H ARRIOR THE JEWISH AMERICAN “Bringing the Light ofARRIOR Torah to Those Who Serve” VOL. 1 NO. 5 The Man Who Saved the President Truman’s features Chaplaincy: p. 5 Torah Scroll: p. 14 Go to Water: p. 9 COVID-19 and the 5 Things for Non-Jewish Military Family: p. 16 VOL. XXIV NO. 5 Chaplains: p. 10 Shavuot Info: p. 23 1 SIVAN-TAMMUZ 5780 / MAY-JUNE 2020 1 THE JEWISH AMERICAN THE JEWISH AMERICAN ARRIOR ARRIOR A SHAVUOT MESSAGE FROM THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE By the Grace of G-d “descends” on Mount Sinai, and the world from a distance; but absolute Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 5715 Jew ascends to G-d — the soul is faith in a very personal G-d, who is the [May 22, 1955], Brooklyn, N.Y. released from all its fetters tying it very life and existence of everybody; . It is surely unnecessary to down to earthly things, and, on the who permeates where one is, or what wings of fear of G-d and love of G-d, one does. Where there is such faith, elaborate on the close relationship unites with the Creator in complete there is no room for fear or anxiety, as between the physical and the communion. It is then that it can fully the Psalmist says, “I fear no evil, for spiritual, which even modern appreciate the inner meaning of “I am You are with me,” with me, indeed, at science has become convinced of. G-d your G-d, Who brought you out of all times, not only on Shabbos or Yom the land of Egypt, the house of Tov, or during prayer or meditation on Physically, at this time of the year, we bondage,” and the rest of the Ten G-d. And when one puts his trust in find Nature again in full bloom. After a Commandments, till “You shall not G - d , u n c o n d i t i o n a l l y a n d period of hibernation, it springs back to covet,” i.e., not only refrain from taking unreservedly, one realizes what it life with renewed vigor and vitality, what is not yours, but not even desire means to be really free and full of The Jewish-American faithfully reproducing the same it. vigor, for all one’s energy is released in elements which characterized the the most constructive way, not only in Warrior same period a year ago, and two years is published bi-monthly by This great rise from the abyss of Egypt one’s own behalf, but also in behalf of The Aleph Institute ago, and all the way back to the first to the sublime heights of Sinai was the environment at large. seasons of the Nature cycle. 9540 Collins Avenue, Surfside, attained by pure and simple faith in Florida 33154 G-d, from the day when parents and The road is not free from obstacles Tel: (305) 864-5553 In our religious and spiritual life, also, children, women and infants, several and obstructions, for in the Divine Internet: we have the seasons and festivals million souls in all, set out on the trek order of things we are expected to www.aleph-institute.org which recur year after year, and through the desert, not dismayed by attain our goal by effort; but if we make Email: reproduce the same spiritual elements the irrationality of it, but simply a determined effort, success is [email protected] which first gave rise to them. Thus, at obeying the Divine call with absolute Divinely assured, and the obstacles Copyright © 2020, this time of the year, with the days of trust. This won special Divine favor, in and obstructions which at first loom The Aleph Institute. Sefirah connecting the festival of All rights reserved. the words of the Prophet: “I remember large, dissolve and disappear. Passover (physical freedom) with its for you the kindness of your youth, the Opinions expressed in the culmination in Shavuoth (spiritual love of your betrothal, your going after I wish you to tread this road of pure Jewish-American Warrior do freedom), we can — if we are Me into the wilderness.” It is this faith f a i t h i n G - d , w i t h o u t o v e r - not necessarily reflect opinions sufficiently prepared and attuned to it that carried the Jews through the introspection and self-searching, as in or policies of The Aleph — relive the experiences of our ages, an insignificant physical the simple illustration of a man Institute. Please direct all ancestors who actually witnessed the minority in the midst of a hostile world, walking: he will walk most steadily and subscription inquiries and Revelation and accepted the Torah at a spot of light threatened by an assuredly if he will not be conscious of address changes to our Sinai. Director of Outreach Programs. overwhelming darkness. It is this his walk and not seek to consciously absolute faith in G-d that we need coordinate the hundreds of muscles What a long way our ancestors The Aleph Institute, founded in nowadays more than ever before. operative in locomotion, or he would covered in the course of but 50 days; 1981/5741 at the express be unable to make his first step. direction of Rabbi Menachem from the abominations of Egyptian It is said, the whole sun is reflected in a M. Schneerson, the “culture,” in which moral depravity and drop of water. And so the whole of our Wishing you success in all above, and Lubavitcher Rebbe O.B.M., is a polytheism reigned supreme (as nation is reflected in each individual, hoping to hear good news from you not-for-profit educational, recent archeological discoveries have and what is true of the nation as a and yours, with the blessing of a happy humanitarian and advocacy amply brought to light) — to pure whole is true of the individual. Yom Tov of Receiving the Torah with organization serving the unique monotheism at Mount Sinai, where the inner joy, needs of Jews in institutional Jew receives the Torah with the call of environments and anywhere The core of Jewish vitality and “We will do, and we will listen”. “We will indestructibility is in its pure faith in Sincerely, else they and their families may do” first, i.e., complete surrender of become isolated from their G-d: not in some kind of an abstract [Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson] heritage. man to G-d. Deity, hidden somewhere in the Through the medium of the Torah, G-d heavenly spheres, who regards this VOL. XXIV NO. 5 2 SIVAN-TAMMUZ 5780 / MAY-JUNE 2020 2 THE JEWISH AMERICAN ARRIOR From Our Executive Director Dear Service Members, We hope you are all well and keeping safe as best you can amid the chaos and uncertainty of Covid-19. We know of the difficulties you face on a daily basis and we are here to support you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can help in any way. That said, we must all find ways to be more productive in whatever environment we find ourselves, to accomplish more and to find innovative ways to serve G-d during this crisis. G-d created the human being to be productive. The most difficult thing for the human is to be in a position that one is unable to be productive. Every human being in the entire world has changed their modus operandi since Covid-19 became a pandemic. Even though there may be no religious services and you have very little interaction with others, you can still be productive. As humans and as Jews, we can’t just lift up our hands and give up when we are faced with a challenge. We need to find different ways to accomplish our goal - to create a dwelling place for G-d on this lowly earth by studying His Torah and fulfilling His commandments. For most of us, that means doing more things online. We at The Aleph Institute want to assist you to continue to grow in your Jewish study and prayer, and continue to find fresh ways to serve G-d. Here are some of the many ways that we can help: 1) Aleph has several intellectually stimulating Jewish correspondence courses that are available to you. You can find a list of these courses in this issue of The Jewish Warrior, on pages 50-51. 2) We also have many books on Jewish subjects available, free of cost. Some of you have received books from us in the past, but we have added many new titles to our catalogue. It would be an honor to help you grow and expand your Jewish library! Here are some books that might interest you: “Positivity Bias” In Positivity Bias, we learn that life is essentially good; that positive perception is applicable and accessible to all. That it derives from objective, rational insight; not subjective, wishful imagination. And that positive living is a matter of choice, not circumstance. An inspiring and life-enriching tapestry woven from hundreds of stories, letter, anecdotes, and vignettes, Positivity Bias highlights how the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, taught us to see ourselves, others, and the world around us. “The Chassidic Approach to Joy” Genuine joy comes from profound spiritual awareness in life and an absolute clarity of direction, living for a greater purpose. The Chassidic Approach to Joy explores the mystical depths of one's soul as well as the universe at large, on the path to pure, internal happiness.