“The shofar was a symbol and a reminder to us when our Torah was given to all the people Israel… We need[ed] no reminder on Sukkoth because of our living in tents reminds us when our forefathers lived in tents out [in] the desert and yet lived happily. We live that way today because our enemies are trying to destroy religion and humanity.”
Many of these letters contain additional details that are of interest to read. For example, Lieberman noted that on Simchas Torah, kosher salami sandwiches from Australia were distributed, while the aforementioned Wilfred Mandelbaum reported that in Amarillo, the few Jewish families that kept kosher had to import food and meat from distant Chicago or the somewhat closer Fort Worth, Texas, which was “only” four hundred miles away. This kind of minutiae helps provide us with a greater appreciation to what it meant to be a religious Jew in the army.
Ultimately, the serviceman’s thoughts were never far from home.
Private First Class Lothar Kahn sent a letter to Mr. Tress on Erev Rosh Hashanah from Camp Reynolds, in Greenville, Pennsylvania. He described it as his “best Yom Tov greetings” but it can likely be termed “a soldier’s prayer.”
Kahn wrote: “May Hashem Yisborach be with us at all times and guide us through the new year and our entire lives. May the new year bring everlasting peace and happiness, and the complete and utter destruction of Hitlerism, tyranny, brutality, and force. May all those engaged in the fight for humanity return safely and healthy to their loved ones… May the redemption of our great people not be too far off and may we become a nation that’s a [model] to the others, guided by our holy Torah; the one and main post of humanity.”
Although the cast of characters have changed over the years, the sentiment of this prayer is timeless. Especially in these trying times, Private Kahn’s heartfelt words embody a wish that we continue to fervently pray for.
