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Army Base Jewish Lay Leader Criticized For Reaction To Anti-Semitic Incident

By Howard M. Friedman

As previously reported, at Ft. Benning, Georgia, Army Private Michael Handman was subjected to anti-Semitic taunts and forced by his drill sergeants to remove his kippah (head covering). Subsequently Handman was assaulted by a fellow-soldier, though investigators concluded that this attack was not motivated by anti-Semitism. (See prior postings 1, 2.) On Monday, The Public Record reported that now some members of the Jewish community are calling for removal of retired Navy Captain Neil Block, the Jewish Lay Leader and advocate for Jewish soldiers at Fort Benning because of his remarks about the incidents. Block said of Handman: "When he told me that he was going to wear a keepah ... I said God bless you, but be prepared, there?s a consequence to it and you?re going to be challenged." Block went on:

He has a drill sergeant who has never seen a keepah in his life and treated him less than mommy and daddy would and made some derogatory comments about his faith. This whole thing is an issue of overreaction. Should his drill sergeants have known better? Yeah. But they didn?t. I was at a party where people talking about Jewing somebody down. It goes on. Does it make it right? No. But it?s basic training. You can?t control 100 or so soldiers. I mean everybody uses the ?n? word now and then? to refer to African Americans....

Any young Jew who uses his minority status to play the system is villainous. There?s that element that I am being discriminated against.

Block also interviewed the drill sergeants who were reprimanded for referring to Handman as "Juden," "kike" and "fucking Jew." Block said: "these are two absolutely contrite individuals who did not understand what they were saying. One of the drill sergeants spent time in Germany. Juden is the German word for Jew. To some Jews it may have a pejorative impact. But it?s a legitimate word in German."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 15, 2008 (boomark / email).