The Fighting Rabbis: Jewish Military Chaplains and American History

1. The Genesis of the Chaplaincy

1 1 The Genesis of the Chaplaincy The story of Jewish chaplains is part of the larger history of military spiritual leaders. From Biblical times to our own, soldiers and sailors have wanted their endeavors blessed by holy men and women. The American military chaplaincy, on the eve of the Civil War, represented centuries of tradition regarding this unique ministry. In its evolution, the U.S. military came to represent a wide variety of religious and ethnic groups. The growth of the American-Jewish community in the years leading up to the Civil War prepared the way for the first U.S. military rabbis. The Hebrew Bible vividly describes examples of holy men inspiring fighters to victory. In one instance, when Moses held up his staff on a mountaintop as a rallying symbol for the Israelites, they prevailed in battle against the Amalekites.1 A second account, from the book of Deuteronomy, shows the connection between the priest and those fighting: Before you join the battle the priest shall come forward and address the troops. He shall say to them, Hear O Israel! You are about to join battle with your enemy. Let not your courage falter. Do not be in fear, or in panic or in dread of them. For it is the Lord your God who marches with you to do battle for you against your enemy.2 This inspirational relationship between the fighters and those blessing the battle developed and became the norm through much of subsequent history. These spiritual guides eventually received the title of chaplain. This designation may be traced to a fourth-century Gallic legend concerning Saint Martin of Tours. During a military expedition, Martin offered 2 | The Genesis of the Chaplaincy half of his cloak to a freezing beggar. That same night, he had a religious vision that convinced him to abandon his military career for a life devoted to religious work. Eventually he became the patron saint of France. The remaining half of his cloak became a sacred relic and was utilized as a rallying symbol in battle by French kings. The word ‘‘chaplain’’ derived from the French ‘‘chapelain,’’ which referred to the officer assigned to watch over the cloak.3 In the eighth century, various church councils and synods forbade clerics from taking up arms and participating in civil or military actions . This principle of clerical-military separation began to evolve at a time when priests and bishops functioned as land barons and defenders of their territories, often against fellow Christians. A church document from 803 detailed some of the ecclesiastical responsibilities of an early military chaplain. In addition to not shedding blood, clergy selected for military duty were expected to offer mass, hear confessions, impose penances, anoint the dying, and assist the wounded.4 As modern armies grew from smaller feudal forces, a permanent corps of military chaplains emerged. Alexander Farnese, duke of Parma in the late sixteenth century, organized an elaborate system of military clerics for Spanish forces. Farnese produced an army that included clerics as part of its organizational structure. A clergyman served with each company unit. The chaplaincy developed to such an extent that the Pope appointed a representative from the Holy See to function as a vicar-general of the Spanish army. In November 1587, Farnese endeavored to create a permanent corps of military chaplains. He petitioned the Society of Jesus, which provided him with twenty-four Jesuits . They founded a separate ministry that dealt exclusively with military personnel. Eventually, Jesuits also served as spiritual guides to the Spanish navy. As the Jesuits established themselves in the Spanish military during the sixteenth century, similar developments occurred in the English armed forces. In the Royal Navy, as with most seagoing ventures, the crews desired a minister to solicit divine guidance with the hopes of a successful and safe voyage. The famous adventurer Sir Francis Drake, whose father was a naval chaplain, utilized the Bible as a means to rally his crew in dangerous situations. The religious and social benefits of The Genesis of the Chaplaincy | 3 having a chaplain on board were outlined in instructions associated with the Cadiz expedition that set sail in 1596, led by Admiral Charles Howard: That you are to take special care to serve God, by using of Common prayers twice a day. . . . You shall forbid swearing, brawling, dicing, and such disorders as may breed contention and disorders...