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USAFA Rabbi celebrates Yom Kippur with deployed Jewish Airmen; shares messages from home

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson
  • 380th AEW Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  A U.S. Air Force Academy chaplain is visiting the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing to conduct religious services and visit with Airmen of all faiths during a key time of year on the Jewish calendar.

Rabbi (Capt.) Gary Davidson arrived here Sunday to begin his week-long visit in which he will conduct Yom Kippur services, visit with deployed Airmen and share messages from cadets at his home station in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"I was deployed to the Persian Gulf to conduct holiday worship services for Jewish men and women in uniform," Rabbi Davidson said. "I'm also here to support all our servicemen and women. As a chaplain, that's one of my responsibilities and I love it."

Military chaplains, although typically trained and ordained in one denomination, are assigned to base chapels or staff positions to serve the spiritual needs of the entire base populace.

The Rabbi brought boxes of religious gifts and worship items to share with the Jewish community. He also carried one particular item to bring a sacred touch to the holiday services, a Torah Scroll.

"Jewish people believe the Torah reveals the will of God; it's the word of God. It details not only the early history of the world but it also talks about the early history of Judaism," Rabbi Davidson said. "When a synagogue acquires a Torah, they celebrate its acquisition with dance and song; it's a very joyful occasion."

The Torah is considered the holiest text in Judaism and is venerated by Jews. The Torah Scroll is a hand-written parchment containing the Five Books of Moses. A scribe writes the scroll with a quill in painstaking accuracy under strict standards in permanent black ink. The Torah Scroll contains no vowels or punctuation; hence the ability to read the text is considered a valuable skill.

The rabbi brought the scroll from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, one of the three locations he will visit during his month-long deployment.

"I thought it was important to read the scripture from a traditional Torah Scroll. It adds a different feel to the services and lends an air of sanctity," he said.

The Jewish lay leader, Maj. Deborah Zimmerman, said the Rabbi's visit means a lot to the Jewish community here.

"Rabbi Davidson's visit immediately unified Jewish personnel here. We stood-up and self-identified which created a stronger more unified Jewish community," said Major Zimmerman, who is also the 380th AEW Commander's Action Group officer. "We've become more of a religious community that developed as an instrument or means of channeling our important religious and personal needs."

The rabbi said he appreciates the opportunity the Air Force has provided him to visit the Jewish congregation during their deployments.

"I think it means a lot to the Jewish personnel that the Air Force cares enough to provide a Rabbi during critical times," Chaplain Davidson added. "The Air Force has done a terrific job of accommodating the needs of the Jewish Airmen at the three different bases I've been to. It's a testament to the Air Force that I'm here."

Although the rabbi said it was difficult for him to leave his congregation at the academy during the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement, he said he's discovered it was the right thing for him to do and it has turned out to be a wonderful experience.

"I questioned the decision at first, 'Why am I leaving my congregation to visit smaller groups of people at deployed locations?' But when I see the reactions, particularly of the Jewish members who see me and say, 'Rabbi, thank you so much for being with us,' I know that's why I was sent here," Rabbi Davidson said. "It's a holy mission and it's given me a tremendous amount of fulfillment to be here."

The 380th AEW Airmen did their part to make the rabbi's visit worthwhile and leave an impression on the traveling chaplain.

"When I first got here I noticed how much smaller the 380th is compared to my previous deployed location. At first I chuckled at the smaller size, wondering what the experience would be like at a smaller base," the chaplain explained. "But I've actually discovered the size leads to greater warmth and friendliness because it's smaller and more intimate. The morale is high; people smile.

"I see the wing leadership on a daily basis at the dining facility and around the base. People who I don't know wave to me or say hello or smile," he continued. "What I've discovered is that the 380th is a friendly place to be. It's a great base; it's a great group of people."

Rabbi Davidson said he cannot depart the 380th AEW without passing on a message from the USAFA cadets. He said he spends much of his time cheering the cadets on at home. The last time he cheered them on however, he shared the news of his deployment as well.

"Every week I stand on a chair with pom-poms, a sign or a bullhorn to tell them how wonderful they are; but the last time I did it I told them I'd be deploying to the Persian Gulf," the chaplain said. "Many of them came over to me and said, 'Sir, please tell the Airmen how much we appreciate them and we thank them for their wonderful service.'

"If I can get that message out, that they and I deeply appreciate what all the Airmen here do for our country, I will have fulfilled a commitment I made to the cadets and myself."