What inspired you as a born-and-bred Lakewood ben Torah to strive for political and military careers?

I never strived for any of this. Prior to my involvement in these matters I was a quiet kollel yungerman sitting in the back of [Beth Medrash Govoha’s] Beis Eliyahu. If you had told me then that I’d be mayor of Lakewood or involved in the military I would’ve said that you landed on your head. But obviously Hashem had different plans.

My kiruv activities with Gesher [currently Torah Links] got me involved with several Jewish troops based at McGuire Air Force Base located about forty miles southwest of Lakewood. I was urged to get involved in an official capacity which I did. My political career began when local askanim were seeking a yungerman with a simple name to run a “write-in” primary race against an individual they mistrusted on matters of interest to the kehillah. I won the primary an unusual occurrence for a write-in candidate lost in the general election but won a seat on the committee the following year.

What do your chaplaincy duties demand from you?

Chaplains are there to serve the religious and emotional needs of troops. Although I’m a Jewish chaplain I serve troops of all religions. We serve as morale boosters and crisis counselors. Serving in the military especially overseas is very stressful and unfortunately often causes family breakups depression and suicide in addition to deaths and injuries on the field.

Though I’m only a reservist I train for about two weeks a year and must serve at least twelve days a year. I’m officially assigned to a unit at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst but my travels constantly take me throughout the Unites States. In addition to being trained for chaplaincy duties I’ve been trained for some basic warfare scenarios. Additionally twice a year I undergo a fitness evaluation in which I must do push-ups sit-ups and run 1.5 miles in under twelve minutes.

To read the rest of this story please buy this issue of Mishpacha or sign up for a weekly subscription.