[Avodah] chaplains

[Eli Turkel]

<<My father was never an army chaplain (and didn't approve of Orthodox
Jews taking that job, which involves almost inevitable halachic
compromises) but was very involved with Jews in the military, especially
when we lived in Newport News -- where there are several nearby military
bases.  I mention this only to point out that not serving in the
chaplaincy does not mean abandoning Jewish servicemen.>>

Newport News is near Langley Airforce Base and also Norfolk Naval Base.
In fact these days LAFB no longer has a local chaplain but uses one of
the town rabbis.

However, not every large and certainly not the smaller bases are near
an orthodox community. Should we only help Jewish servicemen
who happen to end up at bases near a orthodox shul?

Being a rabbi out of town also involves compromises.
One of the major differences between RZ and charedi attitudes
in Israel concerns taking jobs that involve halachic questions.
Should a good orthodox ma/woman avoid being a
policeman, fireman or even doctor because these professions
require occasional work on shabbat (though mutar) and because
the professions lead to many questions.
Should we build a society based on chilonim or goyim to fill
all professions that involve many halachic questions?


-- 
Eli Turkel