Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum: Chaplain, Major, Rabbi
Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum describes the path that has led him to his role as director of the Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland as sheer “divine providence.”
Almost 10 years ago, Tenenbaum was serving as a chaplain at a local hospital in Montgomery County when he struck up a conversation with a stranger at a Shabbat service. They spoke for a little about military service — the man was retired military, and Tenenbaum had an uncle who had served as an Army chaplain. A few months later, the man called him to offer him a job.
“He asked me the question: ‘How would you like to become a chaplain in the Maryland Defense Force?’” said Tenenbaum, a resident of Park Heights. “I said, ‘That’s something I never thought about. That’s something that’s very interesting, and I’ll definitely think about it; however, I know there’s a problem with wearing a beard in the military.’”
A year later, Tenenbaum, who had experience as chaplain of his local volunteer fire department, got the approval to wear a beard and became the first-ever Hasidic chaplain to sport facial hair in any American state defense force.
Today, he serves as part of the religious services for the state’s National Guard as well, in addition to building up his own organization: JUSA, which is run under the auspices of Lubavitch of Maryland.
Tenenbaum, 34, founded JUSA as a support mechanism for Jews serving in the military, police, fire and other public safety services. In addition to organizing meetings and events in recognition of Jewish holidays, Tenenbaum, as director, provides those involved with religious and spiritual support and counseling. He is always on call, whether a service member needs help affixing a mezuzah to a door or needs a visit in a hospital.
Another major component of Tenenbaum’s job involves attending conferences for military chaplains. In February, he attended an annual training conference for National Guard chaplains at Camp Frederick. It was there that he met a United Methodist chaplain who had been born to Jewish parents in Odessa and had converted to Christianity in the United States.
Recognizing his Jewish-sounding name, Tenenbaum began talking to the man and found out he had never had a bar mitzvah. As the only Jewish chaplain at the conference, Tenenbaum offered to give him one.
“It was really an amazing experience,” he said of the first-ever bar mitzvah to be held at the camp. Many of the other chaplains at the conference attended the event to watch as Tenenbaum presented the pastor with a camouflage yarmulke and the pair said the Shema prayer together.
On another hot May day, Tenenbaum gathered as many service members as he could into the upstairs of a building on the campus of the MDDF in Pikesville. Though it was three weeks early, he celebrated Shavuot with the soldiers, who ranged in religiosity from observant Jew to gentile.
“I’m learning so much,” said Brian Kelm, commanding general of the MDDF who is Catholic but tries to attend as many of Tenenbaum’s holiday events as he can. “It’s not as different as people think.”
“He has done a fantastic job,” said Yakov Schultz, an MDDF forensic nurse who, since learning about the presence of a Jewish chaplain, has spent about two days each week with the rabbi studying and talking.
As Jewish service members, said Schultz, “we’re excluded.” Now, with the creation of a Jewish organization on base, “it gives us a community. It gives us a feel of community.”
Community is the goal for Tenenbaum. He is currently working on getting tags for servicemen and women to wear with their uniforms that will feature the Shema written in both Hebrew and English, something Jewish to carry with them while they serve.
Tenenbaum sees it as giving back.
“Putting your life on the line,” he said, “is the greatest mitzvah.”
wondering
“and became the first-ever Hasidic chaplain to sport facial hair in any American state defense force.”
What about Jack Goldstein ?
U.S.
Goldstein was the first in the US military, as opposed to a state military
VA
This is State, Goldstein is FED
bizzyizzy
goldstein is a national guard chaplain, that is state
matz
Go Chezki!!!
From the Lewises
Chesy and Chani keep up the great work!
ur niece
great job!
Bedford and Dean
Wow ! The Kid’s kid’s kid
Todros
To 1:
Army and State Guard and different organizations. Goldstein is in the Army, Tenenbaum is in the State Guard.
For the record
COL Yankel Goldstein was the first Chaplain in the US Army to have a beard, MAJ Chesky Tenenbaum was the first to have a beard in the State Guard.
to number 1
“STATE” defence
Baltimore chevra
Go Chezky!
chen
Kol Hakavod!
Friends in Potomac, MD
We are honored to know you. May you and Chani continue on this amazing path. Your dedication to others is truly amazing. Keep up the good work!
what about mendy stern?
mendy stern got permision to keep his beard about three years ago!
so the order is:
goldstien
stern
than this guy?
2006
Tenenbaum has been a Chaplain since 2006. Stern became a Chaplain in 2011.
Robyne Bush
Stop nitpicking!!!! My husband was a Command Sergeant Major, we had 30 years in the military. While we were Army, we served with many, many National Guard and Reserve soldiers. You sit in CH with the LUXURY of many, many Rabbi’s. Do you realize that when we retired three years ago there were less than 12 Rabbi’s for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard? I don’t care who had the first beard on active duty, I care about the fact that there is one more Rabbi who will serve our Jewish Military!!!! Most of the time, stationed overseas, we did without. As you walk the streets today, saying hello every few minutes to a Rabbi, think about those in the military who aren’t so fortunate to have this.