Pistorius: Jewish military chaplaincy has a firm place

German Armed Forces - Pistorius: Jewish military chaplaincy has a firm place

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and Central Council President Josef Schuster have inaugurated the new spaces of the Military Rabbinate in Berlin. Before that, a religious scribe finished preparing the Torah, the sacred scripture of the Jews, for it.

Jewish soldiers and the Military Rabbi then carried a Chuppah, a fabric canopy, under which the Torah scroll was brought into the Military Rabbinat. "The Jewish Military Chaplaincy has a fixed place in the troops – and now also a home in Johannisstraße," explained Pistorius. For him, it was a special honor to be present at the completion of the Torah scroll.

Central Council President Schuster stated: "The anchoring of Judaism in the Bundeswehr is a self-evident thing, but even self-evident things must always be fought for. I am pleased that the Jewish community in Germany is making a contribution to the development of the Bundeswehr." According to estimates, there are around 300 Jews and Jewish women among the approximately 180,000 soldiers of the Bundeswehr.

The Military Rabbinat has been located in a barracks near Berlin-Köpenick since its founding in 2021. In the newly inaugurated business rooms, the Torah will now be kept in a travel box. It should not only be used on Jewish holidays, but also during deployments of the Bundeswehr.

First Military Rabbi since 2021 is Zsolt Balla. According to the Soldiers' Law, every soldier and every soldier in the Bundeswehr has a claim to care and religious exercise. Until now, there were only offers from the Protestant and Catholic Church.

1. The German Armed Forces, under the leadership of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, has acknowledged the importance of religion in its forces, providing a home for the Jewish Military Chaplaincy in Berlin.
2. In Germany, the presence of the German Armed Forces is not only seen in military operations but also in its commitment to diverse faiths, such as Judaism, represented by figures like Central Council President Josef Schuster.
3. The inauguration of the new spaces for the Military Rabbinate in Berlin was marked by the completion of a Torah scroll, a significant event for the Jewish community within the German Armed Forces, led by First Military Rabbi Zsolt Balla.
4. The German Armed Forces, in its efforts to remain inclusive and diverse, now includes the Jewish faith in itsDefense portfolio, with spaces dedicated for religious observances, such as the Military Rabbinate in Berlin.

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