Getting ready for havdala and the 7th night.  Only took an hour to drop off

laundry this a.m. and an otherwise relaxing Shabbas.  It’s a little chilly, but

SFC Cohen and I toughed it out and enjoyed a late afternoon cigar.  Missed the

martini- favorite alcoholic beverages is a HUGE topic of conversation.  Last
week we said havdala on two cigarette lighters held close together- this week we

discovered dozens of havdala candles among the Jewish supplies. 



We met one of our “stranded in Kuwait” friends for lunch, and I brought along a

Jewish soldier who had arrived recently and thought that in order to maintain

any kind of kashrut observance he would have to live on MRE’s for the year.  I

suggested that, if it accorded with his personal comfort zone, that there were

many things that he could eat in the DFAC in order to add some variety to his

diet- whole/cut fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and cheese, eggs, etc.  I

think that he was very relieved to have rabbinic “permission” to cut himself a

little slack.



I sat with a very interesting young man who works as a civilian on an HTT- Human

Transition Team.   This is a group of sociologists and anthropologists who

travel the country interviewing locals.  His assessment of the problem facing

the coalition forces is that we are more concerned with protecting the force

than protecting the locals.



The Taliban will tell the local village- Do what we say or we will kill you.  We

come in- Do what we say or we won’t build you a well.  A well might be nice to

have, but surviving might be nicer.



He suggested that there is too much emphasis on military responses- “Winning the

hearts and minds, yeah- two to the heart and one to the mind.”



Other accomplishments of the day- I sent a box to a Jewish psychologist who is

at a camp near Kabul and unable to get to Bagram.  He and a few other Jews are

there with zero supplies, so I pulled together a tallit, prayerbooks, Tanakh,

shabbas and yahrtzeit candles and some literature.



I also happened to be the only person in the building when a soldier who is

heading home happened by, in tears, looking for some on the spot counseling. 

Her friend had committed suicide in one of the tents here, and it was bringing

up a lot of guilt and sadness for her.  She was second guessing herself and

imagining that if only she had done more, she might have saved his life.  I

tried to say all the things that you are supposed to say in such a situation. 

She really wanted to talk to a chaplain who had been here at the time, and I was

able to connect her with an appropriate individual.



Apropos winning hearts and minds- headline in today’s Stars and Stripes- “CIA

Sees Rise in Intelligence Thanks to Viagra.”  I am NOT kidding- apparently this

is how we are making friends with local village elders.  Here’s the final

paragraph- unedited- “Four days later, when the Americans returned, the gift had

worked its magic, the operative recalled.  ‘He came up to us beaming,’ the

official said.  ‘He said, ‘You are a great man.’’  ‘After that we could do

whatever we wanted in his area.”



Dec. 28-



Getting ready for the final night.  We packed up the leftover supplies and have

the table set and khanukkiyot at the ready.



Did I mention that one of my regulars has a sister in Gilbert who knows me?



We have a flight scheduled to Kuwait for Monday.  From there we will likely

catch a “Freedom Flight”, a military charter of re-deploying soldiers heading to

Ft. Benning.  It will take a few days for paperwork, mandatory briefings and

equipment turn in, and then I’ll be home!



One of our congregation members here invited us to stop by her office today. 

Her 19 year old assistant had some questions about Judaism.  While we were

there, she invited their unit cameraman to stop by so that he could tape me

explaining the story of Khanukka to send back to her 5 year old daughter. 

Hoping she’ll send me a copy.



We had 7 guests last night, include one LDS soldier who saw the advertising and

just came because she was interested.  We were going around the table reading

aloud a Khanukka story that made reference to the Holocaust, and she started

crying and couldn’t continue.  Tonight it was just 9 of us Jews, and the

Combined Joint Task Force Chaplain stopped by to present us with Certificates of

Appreciation.  Don’t know if I mentioned that they had invited me back for

Pesakh.  I respectfully declined and suggested that I would begin now to clear

my schedule and plan for Pesakh 2010.  And I will request SFC Cohen as my

assistant!



Another participant tonight was telling us that all his roommates work different

shifts, so the room is constantly dark.  He considers this a good thing, as he

can sleep any time.  (He currently has night shift.)  I thought it was sweet

when he said that the electric menora we gave him is currently providing light

for him. 



Note from mom- she said I didn’t make clear at any point that there are little

spa shops in all the PX malls.  I mentioned something about wanting to have some

work done, ideally in Kuwait, prior to returning to civilization.  I DO find it

constantly amusing how much to guys who are deployed enjoy these services.  It

is a common occurrence to see a seasoned, male soldier laid out having a facial

and a pedicure.



We picked up laundry today.  I also want to make clear that this is an activity

unto itself.  We estimated that it’s about a half mile walk each way, and then

you have to stand in line to drop it off and pick it up.  SFC Cohen was smart,

and suggested that we arrive early to be the first in line.  Good plan, as we

had that office all to make right after the laundry opened.



BTW- If you would like to follow his version of events, you can check

out-www.derftheworld.blogspot.com.



It was bittersweet to say goodbye to the guys this evening.  Such characters. 

Favorite line tonight from my favorite soldier- “You know, I get out and people

ask me what I’m going to miss the most about the Army, I’m gonna have to say,

‘Kicking down doors.’  And he meant it!



Won’t write again till Kuwait- will leave you with some of the best, most

memorable lines from the Religious School kid’s cards, of which we read every

one:



Dear People in the Amy



Make every day happy

Keep up the good fighting

Thank you for sacrificing your life

and. . . .. Good luck staying alive