Plans for First Jewish Chapel, Religious Center at West Point Submitted to Army

Plans for the creation of the first formal Jewish chapel and religious center at the 169-year-old United States Military Academy at West point are scheduled to be announced here tomorrow night by Maj. Gen. William A. Knowlton, Superintendent of the Academy. The plans have been submitted for approval to Army Headquarters in Washington. Gen. Knowlton is to make the announcement at tomorrow evening’s services at Mount Neboh Congregation where he will receive its annual Brotherhood Award, according to Rabbi Philip Hiat, spiritual leader of the congregation. The chapel is intended to serve the 43 Jewish cadets presently enrolled at the Military Academy and Jewish officers and enlisted men on the post, faculty, and the Jewish community of Highland Falls which is adjacent to West Point. It will be a gift to the Military Academy erected by the West Point Jewish Chapel Fund, Inc. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency was unable to ascertain immediately who is funding the project. A telephone inquiry to the USMA news media division did not elicit the information. In his remarks prepared for delivery at mount Neboh Congregation, Gen, Knowlton will note that one of the first two graduates of West Point was a Jew, Simon Levy, who comprised one-half of the class of 1802. There are presently a Catholic and Protestant chapel at West Point. Services for Jewish cadets have been held at various locations, but there is a Jewish chaplain at West Point, Dr. Avram Soltes.