J.w.b. Opens Drive to Recruit Jewish Chaplains; Acts on Request of Military Leaders

A nationwide campaign to recruit additional Jewish chaplains urgently needed by all branches of the armed forces was launched today by the Division of Religious Activities of the National Jewish Welfare Board at an emergency meeting held at J.W.B. national offices.

Acting in immediate response to requests from the Army, Navy and Air Forces, the J.W.B. Division of Religious Activities, representing the Conservative, Orthodox and Reform wings of the rabbinate, has undertaken an intensive effort to procure the additional chaplains from among the various branches of the American rabbinate.

In announcing the recruiting campaign, Dr. Solomon B. Freehof, chairman of the Division, said “the national rabbinical organizations, working through the Division of Raligious Activities of the National Jewish Welfare Board, will go all-out to make sure that the religious needs of the Jewish personnel in the armed forces are met adequately. The American Jewish community is anxious and ready to do everything within its power to aid our government to combat and overthrow those world forces which are seeking to destroy the democratic way of life.”

The meeting of the Division of Religious Activities that launched the recruiting drive was attended by rabbis from all parts of the country representing the three major rabbinical associations — Central Conference of American Rabbis, Rabbinical Assembly of America and Rabbinical Council of America — as well as the Association of Jewish Chaplains in the Armed Forces. In World War II the Division of Religious Activities recruited 311 Jewish chaplains for the armed forces.