Volunteers make Passover special for Benning troops

Seder to be served Saturday on post

BY BORDEN BLACK - Special to the Ledger-Enquirer --

Eight years ago, when Neil Block came to Columbus, there was no Passover Seder for the Jewish trainees at Fort Benning. The retired Navy captain and his wife cooked up a quick celebration for 40 soldiers that year.

That has changed.

This year members of the Columbus Jewish community have spent a week preparing for an expected 165-180 troops who will attend one of the most important Jewish celebrations.

There are between 180 and 200 Jewish soldiers at Fort Benning at any given time, Block estimates. That's one of the highest concentrations in the Army. Block, who serves as Fort Benning's Jewish lay leader along with Dick Grifenhagen, says unit leaders have been very supportive of organized religious services and programs, but until recently there was no Jewish chaplain on the installation to lead them. There are only 9 Jewish chaplains in the Army and it has taken a concerted effort, Block says, to have one assigned to Fort Benning. In the meantime, local synagogue and temple members have organized the services on post.

It is important during basic training, which Block calls rigorous and life altering, that soldiers are able to participate in religious programs.

"The reality is that for the first time they are facing mortality so there is a renewed sense of self and some deity and so however they recognize that deity becomes very important," he explains.

Jewish services are now conducted every Sunday, and the Passover observance is particularly significant.

"It's our Fourth of July," is how retired pediatrician A.J. Kravtin describes the holiday, which celebrates the exodus and subsequent freedom of the Jewish slaves from Egypt.

Passover, known as Pesach, begins at sundown Saturday and concludes at nightfall on Sunday. The Bible commands Jews to observe Passover, Block says, in order that the past will be remembered.

The Seder, the most important event of Passover, will be held for the military community at 6 p.m. in the Follow Me Dining Hall on Fort Benning. According to Block, preparing the Seder has been challenging. There are many strict rules surrounding Passover. In addition to the normal kosher requirements, kitchen utensils and dishware normally used can't be used to prepare the Seder. No leavened foods or grains can be eaten and the home must be cleared and cleaned of all yeast. This commemorates the Israelites who had to flee into the desert before their bread had time to rise. The only grain product eaten is matzah which is unleavened bread made from flour and water. Since this year the Seder falls on the Sabbath (Saturday), all the preparations must be made before then.

Since the only public kosher kitchen in Columbus is in Shearith Israel Synagogue, all the food preparation is being done there by a half-dozen volunteers. There is a lot to prepare. The Seder plate is composed of bitter herbs, Charoset (representing the mortar the Jewish slaves used to make bricks), a roasted shank bone, a roasted egg, and parsley in salt water symbolizing spring and its spirit of hope. In addition, the meal that will be served to the soldiers will include Matzoh ball soup, baked chicken, Matzoh dressing and glazed carrots. Block will lead the Seder service using a Haggadah (order of the service) that is somewhat abbreviated but includes all the traditional elements.

"The troops love it," says Vera Grifenhagen, who has helped with the Seder for a number of years. She says it allows the Jewish soldiers to feel comfortable. Kravtin points out that Passover is a very family oriented time and for the young men so far away from home it is important for the traditions to be continued.

Last year the Seder was catered out of Atlanta. Fort Benning's Jewish chaplain, Avrohom Horovitz, says the Jewish community in Columbus helps to make the celebration special and it couldn't be done without those volunteers.

Without the volunteers' efforts to bring Passover to Fort Benning, Rabbi Max Roth says it would be sad: "Sad to be alone, and at Passover it would be like for Christians being alone at Christmas or Easter."