By Emily K. Alhadeff, Associate Editor, The Jewish Sound
Orthodox rabbis are widely known for their distinctive black suits and black Borsalino hats. But on September 10, University of Washington Chabad rabbi Elie Estrin wore a different kind uniform: The navy blue suit and cap of the United States Air Force.
Estrin was sworn in at the McChord Airfield chapel as a military chaplain to the Air Force. Estrin is the first Chabad rabbi to become an Air Force chaplain, and the first military chaplain to have a beard since the Pentagon lifted its beard ban last year. After the ban was lifted, Estrin says he began pursuing his dream of chaplaincy.
“The concept of military chaplaincy was something always very interesting,” Estrin told The Jewish Sound. “I’m not a hospice kind of guy. I deal with people who are young.”
Over the years Estrin has been running Chabad at the UW, he’s seen a number of military personnel come through his doors, including an 87-year-old veteran who was present at the ceremony.
“There’s an automatic disconnect between a civilians and military,” he said. “We civilians just don’t get it.”
Estrin, whose 10 years of rabbinical experience qualify him for the rank of captain, will be serving Air Force members, Jewish and non-Jewish.
“Anything that would be according to Jewish law and Halachah I’m able to do, and to assist airmen no matter who they are,” he said. “I’m thrilled to help out in whatever way I can.”
Estrin is working through the Aleph Institute, a charitable organization run by Chabad, that provides social services to families in critical need, supports Jewish military personnel, and works with Jews in the criminal justice system. He will need to complete five weeks of officer training in Alabama and four weeks of chaplaincy training in South Carolina this winter. He is committing to 24 days of chaplaincy work a year, but hopes more opportunities will arise.
Rabbi Sanford Dresin, director of military programs at Aleph, flew in to officiate the ceremony. Estrin was joined by his family and a number of military chaplains, as well as Rabbi Sholom Ber Levitin, director of Chabad of the Pacific Northwest, Rabbi Shmuel Heber of Chabad of Pierce County, and Rabbi Cheski Edelman of Chabad of Olympia.
Estrin wore plain clothes before changing into his uniform after the swearing in.
“It was overwhelming, it was humbling,” he said the day following the ceremony. “I was really surprised by those feelings being as strong as they were…. You’re a continuation of something that is historic and a central part of America.”
Estrin said he was moved by the supportive response he received, and it gave him the hope that the work the military does is still important to people, even those who tend to be opposed to military measures.
“It was hard to wrap my head around it,” he said. “I’m extremely touched. The support is far beyond what I ever would have dreamed.”