G.I. Jew: Frumkeit in the US Army

Riding in his humvee over bumpy terrain in the planes of the Iraqi desert during a routine escort mission, Specialist Joe Kashnow, a religious Jew and American soldier from Baltimore, was ambushed by a buried improvised explosive device strategically placed on this unassuming path by Iraqi dissidents. The roadside bomb seriously injured Kashnow, 25, who is in the middle of intensive reconstructive surgery on his right leg. Since his injury, Kashnow and his wife Sarai have decided to share their story with the world and improve on the conditions of Jewish soldiers in the United States military. Joe and Sarai Kashnow have recently established the Jewish Soldiers Foundation, a non-profit organization that will assist soldiers of the Jewish faith and their families. From his recovery room at Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus in Washington D.C., Kashnow, who will be receiving a purple heart for his heroism, spoke with the Commentator about his experience as a religious Jew in the U.S. military and about his new foundation for Jewish soldiers.

COMMIE: How do you end up serving in the US Army?

KASHNOW: I've always wanted to be in the army. When I was eighteen, I had planned to join the Marines. But I got married instead of going to boot camp. I then wanted to join army reserve, but medical complications got be bounced out of the program. Finally, after I was divorced, I had the opportunity to enlist, and after basic training I wound up getting married again.

COMMIE: What type of commitment is involved in military service?

KASHNOW: Basically, it is a four year commitment. Some soldiers spend as low of 2 years, and some, as many as 6 years. But unlike the Israeli army, there is no time off. And you serve in areas depending on your contract with different bonuses, money for college or other financial support. I had, what is called, a State Side Enlistment, which was a different type of bonus.

COMMIE: What was it like to be a religious soldier in the military?

KASHNOW: It was not easy. I got into a fight once with my boss about not lifting weights with him on Shabbas, and about going to the dentist on Shabbas while in Iraq. We had a dentist appointment on Friday and Saturday, which meant our whole unit would go to the dentist together, three for their appointment and the other three as an escort. We went everywhere together. The area where the dentist was located was pretty hostile, an area we nicknamed "RPG-alley." It was pretty horrible area, and the danger inherent in traveling there meant I had to be there. It was definitely a reason to violate Shabbas. We usually had, as I said, three appointments on Friday, three on Saturday. We all left together. Why could I not have the appointment on Friday, I asked my boss. He had no reason for not letting me go on Friday. The problem with my boss was that he had no respect for people of faith, people of any religion whatsoever. He basically had no need for people with religion.

COMMIE: But should Jews really serve in the Army?

KASHNOW: Jews have historically served their country, and served it well in it's military. There is no reason America should be different. We take many of our freedoms for granted here. Someone has to be willing to defend that which is so valuable to us. We say that as religious Jews we lead the world in what's right. It's clear that Jews should and must serve in today's armed forces. We're noticeable in plenty of other realms of American culture. We have often played a role much higher than our numbers allow; despite our small numbers we've really made an impact. Based on our numbers we should not be expected to do anything, and yet we're heavily involved. We are represented in so many things, why should the military be an exception?

The problem is there are some preconceived notions that are essentially untrue. The first is that Jews can't be in the military. The second is that the military is not a place for nice Jewish boys. Both are false. Sure there are difficulties involved, it's not easy. But we're working with congress to allow people to engage in their religious freedom more easily. I understand that certain aspects involved with missions that cannot accommodate religious needs. But when you're off a mission, there is no reason the military cannot be accommodating.

COMMIE: What type of military regulations already exist on religious activities?

KASHNOW: Overall the military is supposed to respect the religious rights of its soldiers. Jews are allowed to wear a yarmulke indoors, at all functions for that matter, with their uniform. That was arranged by attorney Nate Lewin a few years back, after losing in the Supreme Court. Officially in the military, time is available for soldiers to pray if they need. If the work schedule conflicts with that need, then the soldier should be assigned another work schedule. But the problem is that no one knows about this. An E-1 private who asks for 15 minutes to pray in the afternoon, will be laughed at. There is not an NCO in the army who would allow it. Not because the army does not allow it, they just don't know that it is allowed. The army needs to be educated that these rights are to be granted. Until the army knows about that it will be hard for religious soldiers.

COMMIE: You seem to have encountered greater difficulties than others?

KASHNOW: My battalion did not do its job properly. My kosher food rations were missing. A friend of mine, who is a frum guy, in the brigade got kosher food each day. But my food disappeared on the first day in the country. There were many at fault; the chaplain, my boss, others who were not doing their job. Once I was told to draw my own kosher food from the storage. A soldier is not supposed to do that. Why could they not be drawn at the same time the rest of the food was taken out? I should be able to show up and have dinner.

COMMIE: What types of responsibilities did you have in Iraq?

KASHNOW: I am a scout with the Cavalry, part of the 4th infantry division, focusing on specialized reconnaissance and security. We set up observation post on whatever the target area happens to be. Anything from watching traffic on a road, or bridge, to a particular house looking for someone specific or just watching an area for enemy activity. We also do a lot of convoy security, and presence patrols all around our area. I was involved with combat arms. When we are in garrison though, we train. When we are done training, we go home. We can go to the field for a month at a time, and then go home. We work on our vehicles and have classes on first aid, placing mines, and explosives. We do not have jobs that we need to always be in specific places. Unless there is a war there is not a whole lot we can do.

COMMIE: What were some of your experiences in Iraq like?

KASHNOW: As scouts, we sit in an assigned area and watch what is going on, take direct action, or call for backup. It depends on how many of the enemy we encounter; if it's two, we'll probably take them out. But if there is more, we call for backup. It is a matter how to respond to a situation. We do convoy escorts; we are light cavalry, wheels instead of tracks, Humvee instead of Bradley. Tracks are not made for driving on roads. For that we take wheeled vehicles for escorts. Our job on paper is different than our job was in Iraq; in Iraq we did as much as we could without getting shot.

We had to communicate with the locals. I'm not even remotely fluent in Hebrew, but I picked up the Arabic quickly since on a lot as some of the basic words were close to Hebrew. Occasionally we found people who spoke English. By searching cars I learned parts of cars. You tap on something and they tell you the name. you learn to communicate.

I once ended up davening inside one of the bedrooms in the palace of one of Saddam Hussein's wives. Everything was made of marble and lined with gold. The toilets were made out of marble, not porcelain. It was unreal. Davening there had a strange feeling to it. But it was powerful to know that such an anti-Semite could be taken down. Sometimes in life you can see the work of Hashem clearly. You see miracles, and over the course of your life you see enough to give a faithful person enough to believe in. When you go to war you see these miracles, you see Hashem, everyday.

I had a friend who was shot in the neck. He was ambushed from a thousand different directions. Luckily the bullet went through his neck and out the other side. It was a miracle. We had another guy who had a bullet cross right in front of his face. He felt the heat of the bullet go across his lips.

COMMIE: Why did you choose the American Army?

KASHNOW: I joined the American army because I was born here. This is my country, this is who I should be fighting for. Fighting for Israel is a worthy cause. However, the fact remains that I am an American, not an Israeli. Israel has plenty of people to serve in their military. They have their own draft, they do not need American boys and girls to run over there. There is no reason that a religious Jew should not serve in the American army.

COMMIE: You have started a foundation to assist Jewish soldiers. What are some of its objectives?

KASHNOW: Our first goal is to take care of the soldier. We are raising money to send packages over for the holidays. Even though Purim hasn't happened yet we are already looking at Pesach and Shavuot. Second is the soldiers family, especially while they are deployed. My wife knows all about getting married and then having your husband be told that he is leaving for Iraq. She is running the family/ community part of our organization. We are also working with the U.S. Congress to get new legislation for religious soldiers.

We are working on an English sefer on how to be a religious soldier in the American army. I went in fresh with what I already knew, and had to figure out the rest as I went along. We hope that the book will advise other soldiers how best to follow ritual.

I want to see more Jewish Americans in the military. On the other hand I want them to be able to be as frum as they want. I did see more and more people get attached to their faith. In the army it was the only thing they had, the only thing the drill sergeant could not take away. There are people who develop an appreciation in the army, and I want them to have the opportunity to be religious. There is no reason why we cannot have religious benefits for our soldiers.

We try to raise money for Jewish soldiers. We are working to get things donated to help Jewish soldiers in any way. I had two uniforms in Iraq - you wash one you wear one. We want to raise money to help out soldiers, buy them more clothes, send whatever they need cameras, phone cards, whatever it is. People find my experience uncommon and that I understand. But there is so much we can do to make religious life in the army easier, and to help all Jewish soldiers to embrace Judaism while in the army.

COMMIE: How can Jewish youth interested in the army find out more?

KASHNOW: There are easy ways to get in touch with a recruiter. You show the slightest bit of interest, they will do what it takes for you to sign up. They are not going to go to the Jewish schools unless they see a reason for it. They know that since there are no Jews in the military that Jews do not sign up. The army could benefit almost anybody. There are lots of jobs that have little to do with fighting, a lot with thinking. We have so many problems in our communities, we're scrambling to find programs. In all seriousness, throw them in the army. Give them chances to straighten out. A lot of parents won't give that opportunity if they can't be frum. That's what we're trying to do. We need to do as much as we can to help them.

For more information please visit the Jewish Solider Foundation website at www.jewishsoldier.org or Email info@jewishsoldier.org