Chaplain Helping Observe Jewish Holy Days at Texas Fort, N.D. Air Base

Lt. Col. Timothy H. Miner
Chaplain
Virginia Wing

September includes the Jewish High Holy Days, and at least one Civil Air Patrol chaplain is stepping up to ensure that members of two armed services have the opportunities to observe.

Chaplain (Capt.) David “Dovid” Grossman, am Illinois Wing deputy chaplain, is supporting Jewish soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, for Rosh Hashanah, marking the start of year 5782 on the Jewish calendar.

Later in the month, Grossman will deploy again to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, to help Jewish airmen celebrate the holy time of Yom Kippur.

When his religious endorsing body put out the call for volunteers to support members of the armed forces during their holiest times, Grossman was quick to respond.

"The mission of the CAP Chaplain Corps is to provide a ministry of presence and be a representative of the holy,” said CAP’s new chief of chaplains, Chaplain (Col.) Linda Pugsley. “As the fourth component of the Air Force, we are often called upon to supplement that mission to our active and Reserve Forces from all the services.

“This service to our community, state and nation is totally voluntary. Caring, giving servants, like Chaplain Grossman, give of their time to provide spiritual services, counseling, comfort and emotional care to those in need. And we are blessed to do it,” Pugsley said.

Grossman hopes his Rosh Hashanah service blesses all participants so they will “be written and sealed for a year of revealed blessings and health. Together we will usher in a new d light that will brighten the darkest corners of human experience and shower peace and harmony upon all mankind individually and collectively,” he said.