Soldiers travel to VBC to celebrate the Jewish New Year

Courtesy Photo | Col. Steven Bernstein, from St. Louis, Mo., sounds the ram's horn, also known as a shofar in Hebrew, after a Rosh Hashanah service, Sept. 20. The shofar was sounded two days after the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, as the horn is not sounded on the Sabbath. "It brings back memories with my orthodox grandfather who first taught me how to blow shofar," said Bernstein, a flight surgeon, assigned to the 227th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade. Celebrating the Jewish New Year has been a good opportunity to remember the important things and think more profoundly about life, spirituality, friends and health, he said.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.18.2009

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Division Baghdad

VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq — As the years add up on the 21st century, another calendar is more than 3000 years ahead of today.

The Jewish calendar, which has been around since the creation of The Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, is now in the year 5770.

Soldiers traveled from forward operating bases and combat outposts throughout Multi-National Division-Baghdad to come together, Sept. 18, for a traditional service at Victory Base Complex to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, which means Jewish New Year in Hebrew.

Jewish people from around the world celebrate this High Holy Day when they gather with family and friends to celebrate with prayer and many of the traditional customs that go along with bringing in a new year.

"It's nice to be here to celebrate the New Year with Jewish people from the Army," said Spc. Elibah Franklin, a supply specialist, from Beersheba, Israel, attached to Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, who flew in from FOB Hammer. "It's good knowing I'm not alone and that there are others who know different customs. I have more people to relate to."

The experience of coming to the service gave some Soldiers the feeling of getting reacquainted with their faith.

"I'm here to learn, I'm here to regain some of what I've lost. I've lost traditions with the Jewish faith. My father taught me a lot and he died when I was young," said Spc. Lourival Ledo, a supply specialist, from Charlotte, N.C., attached to the 113th Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team. "The Army has allowed me to take part in the important holidays of my religion. I'm very thankful for that."

Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection and for making resolutions. Soldiers appreciate the new beginning and what it represents personally and professionally.

"I want to become one again with my fiancée and my family, also, it is a new era for Iraq and I want to help with its progress," said Ledo, a native of Recife, Brazil, who convoyed in from COP Meade.

Typically, most of the movement between FOBs is mission-oriented, to move supplies or maintain logistics. Soldiers are not usually traveling between FOBs for religious purposes. Command mission essential requirements come first, said Spc. Guillermo Osorio, a supply specialist, from Mansfield, Ohio, attached to the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., who convoyed in from COP Carver. Osorio added that the chaplain made the arrangements because he saw how important Rosh Hashanah is and how few [Jews] are in the battalion.

Soldiers participated with traditional songs and food after the service. Soldiers clapped hands, sang 'Hava Nagila' and dipped apples into honey, symbolizing sweetness to the start of a new year.

"I'm really grateful that I had a chance to participate, it did a lot for me on this deployment, it uplifted my spirits," said Franklin. "It's been hard out here away from family and home, there's no family to turn to when things get you down, being here amongst Jewish people, doing the same things you've been brought up doing, is a relief."

Rosh Hashanah was ushered in with enthusiasm and enlightenment. It didn't matter that it took a convoy or air movement request to get here, as long as Soldiers appreciated the unique environment a High Holy Day brings in Baghdad.

• Date Taken: 09.18.2009
• Date Posted: 09.20.2009 10:31
• Story ID: 39046
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ