The party continues.  Last night's guests did not leave until 0015.  It was all   I could do to shower and crawl into my sleeping bag after that, but it is beyond   rewarding to see how people are enjoying connecting with their tradition and   with each other.  We had 8 participants, plus the two of us, with one person who   came from an outlying FOB outside an outlying FOB- took him 6 days to get here.        Our class clown commented in a more serious moment, "I was hungry.  I didn't   realize how hungry I was to connect to my people."  Wow!    By 2330 our new attendee asked him, "Why are you in the Army?  Why are you not   doing standup?"  The two of them are meeting for lunch today, and SFC Cohen and   I are so pleased to have facilitated their connection.    He and I dropped in on the chaplains' Xmas gathering, and I received an OEF mug   as my white elephant.    The day was a little slow since the state of my health is not allowing for cigar   smoking or going to the gym, two of my primary activities.  I'm not worried this   a.m.- I'm going to have to go to MWR to look at AOL and Cox and search for   something on Google.  It's an ordeal as there is always a long wait and only 1/2   hour of access at a time.    BTW- SFC Cohen was disappointed that I don't allow for comments on my blog site-   www.azrabbi.com.  (In the normal course of life I'm just too busy to deal with   it.)  He was sorry he couldn't add his perspective on the duffle bag drag   situaion- he STILL doesn't think I've done it justice.  Feel free to contact him   directly at fred.cohen@us.army.mil.    Among the more interesting moments yesterday was a briefing at the Joint   Operations Center, which coordinate
s our mission, about the threat and plans   etc.  As we were waiting to be escorted into their area, there was a 4 piece   brass ensemble playing Christmas music. It was pretty cool.  The statistic that   impacted me the most and that I will most remember is that 87 girls' schools   have been destroyed so far this year.  The literacy rate is so low.  One of the   Jewish soldiers works training Afghan police, and he noted how challenging that   makes their efforts.    In a way this feels like a garrison environment, up to and including Physical   Fitness Tests and random drug screenings.  The guys laugh about all the   paperwork and the 5 paragraph op orders just to go up a hill.  The big issue is   that you need to wear a reflective belt at night, and they're making a fortune   handing out tickets to those who are non-compliant.    SFC Cohen was asked my someone back home to take a photo of a DFAC here which is   named for this person's brother, who was killed by an IED while returning fire.    One of our Jewish soldiers works near there (it's on the other side of the base,   across the airfield), so we all made a field trip there for dinner last night.    We saw many interesting sites as we traveled the permiter road- the mine field   where locals earn $2. a day marking mines, the former local village which has   been bombed into non-functionality, and the spot on the fence that was hit by a   rocket Thurs. night.  Took photos of all of it- we're regular tourists.    I've gotten a lttle smart- I'm writing this on my AKO email at the office and   will forward it to myself at AOL to conserve computer time at MWR.    Saved the best for last. . . Not only have two of the soldiers here davvened   regularly at Chabad on Lincoln Dr., LT Jonathan Porges was raised at TEMPLE   CHAI!  Cue- "It's a Small World."  He was asking about Rabbi Berk and Cantor   Feller.  Joined the Army instead of the Phoenix P.D. because he "thought he   could do more damage".  He's itching to get out on some missions and away from   the above
-mentioned garrison environment.    Apropos of which, when we were down to our last two guests last night and the   two of us, Mr. Personality said, "Here's the difference between us- I think this   sucks.  You (pointing to Mr. Outpost Observer) think- I love how much this   sucks.  And you (pointing to SFC Cohen) think- This sucks; the cables are down.    Sounded about right.    Entertaining sign of the day- At Sick Call- Let us know right away if you have   been coughing for more than 3 weeks.  Guess I have a way to go before there's   any real concern.    Going to get in line. . . .    CH (COL) Bonnie Koppell  Command Chaplain  63rd Regional Support Command  153 Dailey Rd.  Moffett Field, CA 94035    office- (650) 691-9089  BB- (562) 343-3325  fax- (480) 464-1880    bonnie.koppell@us.army.mil    "The Holy One will give strength to the people, the Holy One will bless us with   peace."