Sailors Celebrate Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur At Sea
Story and photo by MC3(SW) Devon Dow, USS George Washington Public Affairs


(Right) Cmdr. Joel Newman, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., leads a prayer for Sailors during a Yom Kippur service held in the ships chapel on board USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sept. 21. Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is one of the holiest days in the Jewish faith. Newman, a guest onboard the carrier, is one of only six rabbis in the U.S. Navy and the only one located in the Pacific.

The Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, was observed by Sailors aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) Sept. 21 in the ships chapel.

GW welcomed Cmdr. Joel Newman, who is one of only six rabbis in the U.S. Navy and the only one located in the Pacific, to lead a prayer service for Jewish Sailors on one of the holiest days in the Jewish faith. Yom Kippur consists of a 25-hour fast, starting at sundown the day prior. The holy day is a time of the year when Jewish people seek forgiveness for sins committed against God.

To the sounds of launching aircraft from overhead on the ship’s flight deck, Jewish crew members, led by Newman, celebrated Yom Kippur by conducting a traditional evening service.

“Holding this service on ships for Sailors, especially when they are underway gives them a piece of home,” he said. “This is the big time of the year for the Jewish community. For many who celebrate this holiday, life stops; children do not go to school, adults do not go to work; they go to the synagogue. Here on the ship today for these Sailors, life temporarily stopped. I think when you come into a chapel like this; it recreates what home feels like because the prayers are so universal.” Newman has traveled to many aircraft carriers in the fleet, but it was a first for him visiting GW. He said he enjoyed the hospitality of the crew and was honored to give the service to what he called a wonderful community that is committed to the Jewish faith.

“We had a great turnout which is why they invited me, otherwise this would not have been able to happen,” he said. The chaplains were very accommodating and had all of the supplies we needed for this High Holy Day service.”

Due to the significance of Yom Kippur to GW Jewish crew members, many are now thankful to have Newman on board to lead the service as it served as a unique opportunity while at sea for the Sailors to worship with their own spiritual leader.

For Aviation Ordnanceman Ezra Brabham from Long Island, N.Y., the service was greatly appreciated.

“This was amazing. I have nothing but great things to say and feel about what has taken place here today,” he said. “I was really shocked that they were going to have a Yom Kippur service. Next year, for this service, this would be great for us to have again; it really is a good way to raise the morale of the Sailors of the ship who are interested in continuing practicing their faith while underway. For the CRMD (Command Religious Ministries Department) to be able to put a service like this together today was great.”

“This was a great service that Cmdr. Newman provided to our crew for Yom Kippur,” said Lt. Benjamin Howard, a GW chaplain.“As chaplains, our mission is to serve the men and women in uniform and Cmdr. Newman is a great example of that commitment we all share.”

Following the service, The GW CRMD took Newman on a personal tour of the carrier which gave the Navy rabbi a chance to meet and greet senior leadership and other members of the crew.