Deployment Firsts: Leading Egalitarian Services in UAE over Zoom

This deployment is been full of firsts. 

And this may be another one. 

Over Zoom last night, I led Egalitarian Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv in the UAE. 

As there is no Masorti/Conservative or Reform rabbi in the area outside of myself, this may have been a first service led by non-Orthodox rabbi. 

I am still letting that sink in.

But I do not have too long to think about it, because I am leading KabShab services again (over Zoom) in two weeks, this time to include an invite to the Baharaini Jewish community and the US military Jewish communities of Bahrain and UAE.

And maybe starting to teach a Shiur once the week. 

No biggie. 

What did you do this week?

The Military is a Small family

 I love running into friends I served with previously. 

John Jones and I served at 2nd Intel Bn 2016-2018.

Ben and I were in chaplain school together in 2012.

14 COVID tests...

RP1 and just finished our 14^th COVID tests.

Yup, 14. And we still have another chunk of deployment to go.

I assume we will be at 20 by the end.

We'll see who gets the Golden Q-Tip at the end.

At least we were escorted by a pretty sunset. 

Care Packages and a Kosher Salami!!

I cannot thank the amazing communities that came together to send care packages to my people. Some donors have known me since high school, and others only recently. And so many organizations ready and willing to support my people, who are scattered all over the place, and other commands in need of some holiday cheer!

 That taste of home is so meaningful, no matter what time of year we are gone. 

 I cannot thank enough Alex and his wife Deena, who sent me a salami, and some Chanukkah decorations. They are still up. 

It is the only Kosher meat I got on deployment, outside of the Kosher beef jerky that Rabbi Esther Reed sent along with some other goodies.  I am so blessed.

 

I promise, Alex. When you are deployed, I will return the favor!!!!

 

Firsts: Praying facing West, and harmonizing with the Muazzin

1) Because of my location, I have to face West to daven towards Jerusalem. 

2) The Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, can be heard five times a day. It is a sweet moment for me, when davening Kabbalat Shabbat, and the Muazzin (singer of the Adhan) begins to sing.

Our music mixes in the air, and I welcome Shabbat with peace in my heart.   

Planting my Green Mark

 Outside my CHU is a rock garden where the old CHUs used to be.

It’s a sad sight.

So, I planted some green things.

I hope they take.

The Grand Mosque of Abu Dahbi

 RP1 and I got to visit the Grand Mosque.

Pictures cannot do it justice.

The Louvre

I have never been to Paris, but I got to go to the satellite site in Abu Dahbi. 

Here’s what struck me:

1) Hearing Hebrew, Russian, French, Korean, Arabic and English all being spoken in the same place. It felt like I was back on the 1 (9) train in NYC.

 

2) That Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist texts and artifacts were placed next to each other with respect.

English/Spanish and Hot cocoa

 At lunch, I was sitting with some sailors, and one mentioned wanting something hot to drink.

 

Me: why not get a hot cocoa?

Sailor: I only have hot cocoa with my Abuela in it.

 

(Abuela is one of the few Spanish words I know.  So of course I shoot back with…)

 

Me: You won’t drink hot cocoa without putting your grandmother’s ashes in it??????

 

She pulls up a picture of the cocoa company she was referring to ONLY after we all stopped crying from laughing so hard.

 

That’s what happens when Christmas dinner is blessed by the rabbi

Let us pray.

 

Twas the night after Santa,

And all through the base,

Some were still hung-over,

All over the place.

 

Enjoying time with each other,

We drank and jackbox played,

Taking a break,

From the unending retro-grade.

 

We were grateful for gifts,

From secrets Santas we knew,

And volunteered to sort mail,

Because volunteering is something we do.

 

Though our numbers keep dwindling,

And more cars are free for use,

We prayer we get fewer speeding tickets,

Which ATO seems to do.

 

Sending projectiles down range,

We’ve shot inside and out,

And enjoyed time spent together,

Of that there’s no doubt.

 

We know on this deployment,

When times get a little rough,

We have each other,

And that’s good stuff.

 

With thanks to the galley crew,

Who feed us each day,

And to God up above,

To look out for us – come what may.

 

So tonight, we celebrate

As a family so tight,

A merry Christmas to all,

And to all a good night.

 

Amen.

Tyler and I enjoying our seasonal hats. Tyler was maybe more excited than I.

The gang with thank you letters from a friend of mine's fourth grade NYC class. 

Christmas Day

 What do you do Christmas day on deployment?

You go to the beach, of course!

Firsts: Clashes on the Battlefield of BINGO!

The USO in this region has the job of covering lots of ground, including visiting my guys.

One of the nights before Christmas, they put on a bingo tournament for us.

It was fun, and silly, and everyone had a great time.

Thanks for the swag!!!

Firsts: Peeing in a C130

In our travels, RP1 and I have used different modes of transport.

This time, it was a C130.

There is no bathroom.

There is a piece of metal you pull down that has the steps attached to it that you climb up to reach the toilet. They had a shower curtain for modesty. The guys all looked the other way, and I was thankful there was toilet paper.

 

It did remind me of the TV show Firefly, where the you pulled the handle, and the toilet came down.

 

Similar, but not an exact match.

First: Chief to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Promotion

I have given invocations at promotions before, but not one where a sailor moves from the Chief’s Mess to the Wardroom.

It was an honor.

Below is the invocation and benediction.

 

Let us pray.

 Holy One,

For 12 years, Senior Chief Vandell has dedicated himself to his craft, advancing his skills, and his rank. Today, we are honored to witness Trevor’s transition from the Chief’s Mess to the Wardroom. Surrounded by family and friends, may this moment be blessed, and full of joy as he takes his first steps as a Chief Warrant Officer.

Amen.

 

If you would join me in prayer.

Source of Strength,

We welome into our ranks Chief Warrant Officer Vandell. And regardless of the rank he wears, or where he eats his meals, we know that Trevor’s leadership will be welcome - - everywhere he goes. And may Beth, Grace and Quinn, make sure to take some credit for Trevor’s success, for without them, he might not be here today.  May Trevor feel Your trust and confidence in him, as he always has. And may be blessed, as Moses blessed Joshua, ‘Chazak V’Ematz,’ be strong and of good courage.

Amen.

What do you do when there is no rabbi around? You wait.

It happens when there is no rabbi around, that Jewish families do their best to keep the community together. Sometimes, that also means that life cycle events do not happen on time, but maybe a few years later, when a rabbi happens upon your base.

I had the honor to do a “baby naming” of a two year old girl, who’d never had a Simchat Bat. Her baby naming will be the last name etched into the bell of the USS Thunderbolt before it decommissions.

Welcome to the Jewish community, Nessah Esther!

Eight Night of Chanukkah: Chaplain Corps Ball

 And of course, on the eighth night of Chanukkah, I attended the Chaplain Corps Ball.

I even led them in a rousing round of the blessings!

Sixth Night of Chanukkah: 90%

And on the sixth night of Chanukkah, I led services at the Naval Support Activities Bahrain chapel. I had two families attend. Outside of the Jews assigned to ships that were out at sea, those 6 people made up 90% of the miliary Jewish community on base.

We are small but mighty, just like the Maccabees.

Fourth Night of Chanukkah

What do you do when it’s the fourth night of Channukah? Invite all of the RMTs in the neighborhood to help you celebrate Chanukkah.

At this point, I feel like RP1 knows all the words to the first two blessings, and knows the tune.

Third Night of Chanukkah: Synagogue of Manama, Bahrain

 So, while in Dubai at the AGJC event, I was invited to attend Chanukkah candle lighting at shul the next night.

Of course I say yes.

Regardless of the fact that RP1 and I flew in super early, we didn’t get to take a break, and I looked as exhausted as I felt, nothing was going to stop me from going to shul for Licht.

 

And I maybe ran into Eitan Na’eh, the first Israeli ambassador to Bahrain.