The Jewish Chaplaincy By Don Canaan (412 words) (c) Don Canaan -- All rights reserved
On Feb. 3, 1943,
S.S. Dorchester was ferrying American troops to Europe. The young soldiers on board, fresh from school and their families, did not have any idea a U-boat was tailing them until German torpedoes struck ship broadside.
The men were ordered over side, but there weren't enough life jackets to go around. The four chaplains on board voluntarily gave up their life preservers and lives so that some others might live.
The four chaplains were a Catholic priest, Methodist and Baptist ministers and Rabbi Alexander D. Goode of Cincinnati. They stood on deck, hand in hand, as Dorchester tilted and sank beneath waves of turbulent mid-Atlantic.
Jews have been a part of every American Army since Revolutionary War, but Jewish chaplains were not allowed to serve them until end of World War I.
Fifty percent of West Point's first graduating class of 1802 was Jewish, but class consisted of only two graduates.
More than 8,000 Jewish soldiers, including eight generals, 21 colonels, 40 majors, 205 captains, 325 lieutenants, 48 adjutants and 25 surgeons served in Union Army. Seven Jews won Congressional Medal of Honor during fraternal conflict.
One Jew, Michael Allen, was appointed a chaplain in 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry during Civil War, but he was forced to resign under pressure. The Volunteer Bill specifically required chaplains to be "regularly ordained clergymen of some Christian denomination."
