Over 200 Jewish military members, including chaplains, service members and service academy cadets, gathered in Surfside to attend the 19th Annual Jewish Military Symposium, the largest gathering of Jews in the U.S. armed forces.
The five-day conference, held on Feb. 11-15, is hosted by the Aleph Institute, a organization that works to provide support for Jews serving in the U.S. military. Participants came from all over the world, including Israel, Germany, Spain, and Japan to connect with and learn from other Jewish military personnel.
During the event, breakout sessions included discussions about navigating religious observance in the military, creating a Jewish community while on duty, and how to have successful military relationships. It concluded with a Shabbat prayer service and dinner.
“Military life asks a tremendous amount of service members and their families,” said Aleph’s CEO, Rabbi Aaron Lipskar. “Our annual symposium reflects our commitment to caring for the whole person behind the uniform. It strengthens service members and their families through meaningful Jewish connection and community, ensuring they never have to choose between their duty and their identity.”
To learn more about the Aleph Institute, visit aleph-institute.org.
