Newspaper Page Text
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
Pag* El*v*n
Friday, Oct. 25, 1968
CHAPLAIN STENGEL HOLDING SERVICES IN THE FIELD
Why Is This
Chaplain Different?
Story and picture by Pvt. Robert Richard
FT. BRAGG, N.C. (USATCI)—
What is different about a Jewish
chaplain? Aside from obvious
religious distinctions, he is one
of a small corps of dedicated
clergy ministering to the needs
of people of the Jewish faith,
serving in the armed forces.
Though the percentage of Jewish
military personnel is not high,
there is a large enough number to
assure any Jewish chaplain a
large congregation at almost any
duty assignment.
Captain Glenn M. Stengel, 27,
a recently ordained rabbi, has
been assigned to Fort Bragg.
Like any chaplain, his task is
not confined to the walls of the
chapel alone, but his is, of neces
sity, an even more exhausting
job. Captain Stengel is responsi
ble for ministering to the spiri
tual needs of the entire Jewish
military community in the Fort
Bragg area.
Serving as religious leader for
persons of the Jewish faith for
all units located on Fort Bragg
and neighboring Pope Air Force
Base, he has his hands full. At
any given time he is religious and
cultural leader as well as coun
selor to an active congregation of
600 to 700 people.
Because his congregation i»
drawn from highly diverse units,
he enoounters many more prob
lems than the mere number of
Jewish personnel would indicate.
In the Training Center for in
stance, a religious obligation to
attend services on the Jewish
Sabbath (Saturday) may require
rescheduling of pre-arranged
classes and activities, and though
the units concerned always com
ply willingly, important holidays
can play havoc with the carefully
arranged schedule of training.
There even are times when Jew
ish services are held out in the
field, while trainees are on biv
ouacs and marches. Aware cf
this, Rabbi Stengel says that
Major Charles McDonnell, the
acting Staff Chaplain for the
Training Center (a Catholic) has
facilitated smooth relations and
understanding of the religious
needs of Jewish personnel by ex
plaining the importance of religi
ous functions to company com
manders.
Captain Stengel’s normal duty
routine consists of daily counsel
ing, character guidance sessions
for troops of all faiths, Friday
evening and Saturday Sabbath
services, a Sunday social break
fast and a Sunday Religious Re
treat and education hour. The
schedule for major holidays is
even more strenuous. Sabbath
services are held regardless of
other religious obligations and
there are times of the year when
Rabbi Stengel must run from
one official duty to another.
This is the most active time of
the year on the Jewish religious
calendar. It is the time of the
Jewish New Year — a time for
setting right man’s record before
his maker.
Rosh Hashana ushered in the
High Holidays at sundown on the
Jflth Elul on the Hebrew calen
dar (September 22). A day for
Divine judgement, according to
tradition each Rosh Hashana the
Lord inscribes the names of the
righteous in the Book of Life for
the next year, and ten days of
penitence begins. The Sabbath
which falls during this period,
"Shabbat Shuvan” in the Hebrew
language, is a day of repentance
and symbolic return to God. The
Day of Atonement is one of fast
ing, disciplining the body and hum
bling of the soul. The whole sea
son is one of a peak of activity
for a Rabbi, and for Chaplain
Stengel, it is a killing pace. By
the time of the traditional final
blow of the ram’s horn (Shofar)
signalling the end of the holiday
season, he looked ready for a
rest.
He was asked how it feels to
greet the Hebrew year, 5729 with
such activity, and he said, “1
don’t mind the work load, but
when I entered the Army I
dreaded the idea of possible ‘red
tape’. I have been fortunate be
cause it seems that Chaplains are
treated with a respect that goes
beyond rank and if a request is
reasonable it invariably receives
ou
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a sympathetic ear. Certainly, the
successful fulfillment of my mis
sion is dependent on the fine co
operation I have received. I’m
grateful for it, and for the price
less experience and sense of use
fulness the Army is giving me.”
At 27 years of age, Rabbi Sten
gel has a greater responsibility
than most men see in a lifetime.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Stengel of New York City, he la
a 1058 graduate of James Hil-
house High School in New Haven,
Conn. He received both his Bach
elor of Arts and Master’s degrees
from Yeshiva University in New
York City. Captain Stengel and
his wife Sandra live at Fort
Bragg.
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