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Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Reb Abe: "If Only I'd Become A Marine Instead..."

Longtime reader and commenter Reb Abe posted this as a comment to this post. I asked his permission to post this where everyone would see it, and he obliged. Reb Abe is a great friend whom I've known for about five years, and who I have the deepest respect for. After reading this, you will too.
Thank You
Thank you from an (Orthodox) American Jew.

This past weekend, our great country once again honored our fallen soldiers, those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the field of battle. Sometimes Memorial Day represents nothing but a day off from work and a chance to spend time with the family.

But I find myself wondering what life would have looked like in different circumstances. What life would have looked like had I volunteered for the Marines fresh out of high school, instead of going to Israel to study in Yeshiva? What would 9/11 have been like if instead of being placed under a lockdown in my isolated Yeshiva in Israel, I would have been part of a mobilized unit sent to protect key installations? What would it have been like if instead of studying for finals, I would have been preparing for combat overseas? What would it have been like to be awoken to bomb blasts, machine gun fire and the sounds of screaming wounded, as opposed to the screams of “SHACHARIS…TIME TO GET UP!” It surely would have been different if instead of coming home to graduate college, I was only coming home to see my family for two weeks before heading back to Iraq.

I don’t always give the proper due to the brave men and women who serve our country with such pride and valor. Sometimes I don’t thank them at all. So here is a word of thanks from a grateful American Jew.
Thank You and God Bless You.

7 comments:

  1. who said anything about "long time reader"?!

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  2. :P You commented way back in the beginning of this blog...!

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  3. Reb Abe should put his money where his mouth is and enlist!

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  4. This last Saturday at my shul, the rabbi read a letter from a Jewish Chaplain serving in Iraq. It was very moving and very much pro our involvement in that country. I don't know about the politics of the matter, but the letter was quite moving: discussing Jewish history in the region and all.

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  5. Very cool. Is it online anywhere?

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  6. Your site is on top of my favourites - Great work I like it.
    »

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