“Nearby,” as they say in the Far West, there is a remarkable Jewish Chapel, with remarkable people, at the U.S. Air Force Academy 50 miles south of Denver. All for the Jewish cadets.
It is a decorous synagogue of unusual dimension, being a circle within a square, suggesting strict monotheism, belief in One God, and the global mission of the U.S. Air Force.
Immediately, you notice something else, even more unusual. It is the “Ner Tamid,” the Eternal Light. Neon-bright, this Ner Tamid hangs in the Chapel to the right of the Holy Ark, the Aron HaKodesh, an unusual position, nesting in three Stars of David.
‘NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENT’ OF THE SPIRIT
“To our Air Force Academy Jewish Cadets,” smiles Chaplain (Maj.) Joel Schwartzman, 39, “that Ner Tamid represents a ‘navigational instrument’ of the spirit, like the North Star–and it faces Jerusalem.” A visiting general called the place “a Jewish jewel.”
Youngest of the service academies, the Air Force Academy has been busily building its own traditions since the first Academy class entered in July 1955 at Lowry Air Force base near Denver. The Academy has become a top educational institution.
Superintendent Lt. Gen. Winfield W. Scott, himself a man of spirit, religiously as well as militarily, put it concisely to me when he averred that “our program here rests on four strong pillars: military, academic, athletic, and spiritual.”
CHAPEL MOST INSPIRING STRUCTURE
The Cadet Chapel, housing the three separate faiths, is distinguished by the 17-aluminum modern “tetrahedrons” which soar 150 feet above the ground. It is the most inspiring structure at the Academy–a lesson not lost on the young persons whose lives and moral code are being forged by their formative years at the Academy. A million visitors come yearly.
America’s Jewish community is little aware of the special relationship that it has with the Military–a unique access and cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense through the JWB Commission on Jewish Chaplaincy, the U.S. Government-accredited endorsing agency for Jewish chaplains. JWB-CJC operates on a policy of consensus in its relationships with the U.S. Defense Department, a model for the civilian Jewish society.
Chaplain Schwartzman comes from a distinguished rabbinic family. His father is Rabbi Sylvan Schwartzman, HUC professor of education who retired in 1980.
Before coming to the Academy, Chaplain Schwartzman served at Keesler Air Force Base and at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. It was in his third year at Hebrew Union College that “I studied in Israel, where I met my wife Ziva, a Sabra.” They are the parents of Micah working on 10 and Ilana leaning on seven.
“My wife Ziva is really 50 percent of what I am doing,” says Chaplain Schwartzman. “She is surrogate mother and big-sister to the Jewish men and women cadets. Plus Jewish holiday and party planner, cook-baker-and interior decorator, and teacher.”
Mused Schwartzman: “Some of our cadets have very little Jewish background, while a few are good at davening.”
Erev Shabbat and holidays “are the times we get these cadets (age 17 to 20’s) and they begin to share in each other’s Jewish life. When they leave the Academy they are going to bases in Mississippi or Texas, or elsewhere, where perhaps there is no Jewish community. I want them to take some type of Jewish life with them.”
At the Air Force Academy 35 cadets are Jewish, three women. More are needed. High schoolers can write to: Director of Cadet Admissions, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840.
JWB REACHES OUT
There has been an intensified year-round program of outreach and service provided the Jewish personnel at the academies by the JWB Chaplaincy Commission and local Jewish communal leaders.
“The Jewish consciousness of the cadets has been raised considerably by the work of JWB, the Jewish chaplains and Jewish lay leaders,” Rabbi Barry H. Greene, Chairman of JWB-CJC, says.
“We sensitize these young men and women to the importance of maintaining Jewish life within the military environment,” Gerald Ostrow, Pittsburgh, Pa., a JWB vice-president and chairman of its Armed Forces and Veterans Services Committee, adds, “The cadets will not only be in positions of Jewish leadership within the armed forces. They are also potential leaders for positions in their civilian communities after they leave the service.”
Of the volunteer 12 officially designated cadet falconers (the falcon is the Academy mascot), one is Jewish–Cadet Lawrence Cooper, 21, of Lido Beach, Long Island, N.Y. He’s also on the Dean’s List. Larry is active in the Cadet Jewish Chapel Squad.
Cadet Eric Svetcov, 18, of Larkspur, north of San Francisco, is the son of Sanford and Carol Svetcov; the father an assistant U.S. Attorney, mother a teacher. A fourth classman, he is intrigued with the unique education. “It’s my future I am looking at, not the present,” he says. “Being Jewish may be an advantage. I often get excused from squadron duties to go to chapel Sabbath services.”
Cadet Lorelei Faber, 19, a sophomore, daughter of Alan and Arlene Faber of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., says, “At first my parents were not too keen about my coming to the Academy; now they are very supportive in all I do.
‘JEWISH CHAPLAIN OPENED MY EYES’
“My Jewish background was very skimpy and I never went to synagogue. Here, our Jewish chaplain and all the activities and chapel services opened my eyes.”
Cadet Scott Shinberg, 19, of Rockaway, N.J., son of Barry and Judith Shinberg, father an attorney, mother a learning disability consultant, says, “At home, I never went to Temple. Here, I come voluntarily and I enjoy it, look forward to it each week.”
Anti-Semitism? “No. Here there are so many different people, each needs to get along with the others.”
The U.S. Air Force admires the Israeli Air Force and “some of that rubs off on us,” one cadet chuckled.
Cadet Gary Gilbert, 19, son of Earl and Barbara Gilbert of Highland Park, III., a sophomore, says his parents are “very conservative,” his father being an officer of a financial management firm. The USAF Academy? “They love it. I am majoring in space science. I want to fly to work with satellites and do computer analysis.” Gary is right on the Air Force track. The Academy aims to become in short order “a computerized campus.”
Cadet Nicole Blast, 17, daughter of Ronald and Eleanor Blast, both physicians, says “At first they thought I was crazy; now they are real happy. At home I never went to services. Now I attend Jewish chapel services all the time. My parents can’t believe it.”
Cadet Anthony Murch, 19, a sophomore, is the product of an intermarriage, Ruth and Harold Murch. “I was never raised in religion,” he says. “But here I got the chance to decide what I want to be, what I really am.”
Cadet Samuel Brevdeh, 20, Bronx, N.Y. sophomore, is the son of Israeli Yuri and Beatrice Brevdeh. Samuel “wants to fly… anything that has engines.” He considers himself “basically Orthodox.”
Robert Levenson, 20, of San Carlos, Calif., son of John and Diane Levinson, says, “At first my parents were shocked. My mother laughed and said that she raised me to be a conscientious objector. Now they are both behind me 100 percent.”
Most of the Jewish cadets are aware of the obligation to preserve and protect their religion as well as the value of religion. They also learn how to resist “missionary” types.
Captain Nathan Krys, 38, is the Jewish Lay Leader (volunteer) — certified by JWB’s Commission on Jewish Chaplaincy–and advisor to Jewish cadets.
JEWISH CADET CHOIR DRAWS CROWDS
Chaplain Schwartzman is most proud of his Air Force Academy Jewish Cadet Choir. He credits the work to Cindy Saunders, choir director.
On tour, “More than once on a given Friday night at the after-Sabbath services choir performance, surprised congregational presidents making announcements from the “bimah” have remarked: “Welcome to these ‘Rosh Hashanah’ services. We haven’t seen a crowd like this since the High Holy Days.”
Chaplain Schwartzman says of the choir, “To the words of ‘Off we go into the wild blue yonder’ (the Air Force song), they sweep the congregation into their 60-minute repertoire of Israeli and American folk songs and Jewish liturgical melodies.
“This is a Jewish contribution to American readiness. This is tangible evidence of Jewish loyalty, resulting in this effort to repay this great land in some way for the richness of opportunity which she has bestowed upon the Jewish people and all peoples. It is another way of giving thanks!”
Back at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Jewish Chapel on the tapestry Holy Ark curtain, the “Parochet,” is the song of the Psalmist: “If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there…”
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