On Friday, March 7, over two hundred military officers, chaplains, and lay leaders gathered for an iconic portrait symbolizing camaraderie, service, and solidarity. The event took place outside “the Shul” in Bal Harbor and marked the culmination of the 18th Annual Aleph Military Symposium dedicated to balancing effective military service with faith and observance.
From March 5-9, 2025, 250 Jewish military chaplains, service members, and their families participated in this symposium, hosted by the Aleph Institute in Surfside, FL. It was the largest professional training conference for Jews serving in the U.S. military.
The symposium featured career development workshops, leadership training sessions, strategic briefings on global security, and discussions on Jewish observance and identity within military service. Specific workshops included “Kosher in Combat Zones” led by LT. Eli Eleff from the OU, geopolitical briefings by military attachés from Israel and Ukraine, “Keys to a Successful Military Marriage” by Batia Gold, and “Balancing Faith with Family” by Kathy Roth-Douquet of Blue Star Families.
“This symposium capped off a year of increased Jewish engagement. Following the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, 2023, there was a surge of interest among previously unaffiliated Jews, as well as a wave of young observant Jews who joined the military,” said Ch. Maj. Rabbi Elie Estrin, event organizer and Military Personnel Liaison for the Aleph Institute. “The symposium was more than just a gathering—it was a training ground for Jewish service members to gain the skills and strategies needed to serve effectively while maintaining their faith.”
High-ranking military and faith leaders who spoke at the event included Commanding General of the I Marine Expeditionary Force Michael Cederholm; Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force Maj. General Trent Davis; Jewish Medal of Honor Recipient Col. Jack Jacobs (US Army, Ret.); billionaire philanthropist Ken Fisher, CEO of the Fisher Family Foundation; military logistics officer Col. Brian Friedland, USAR; and retired U.S. Army Chaplain Rabbi Sanford L. Dresin.
The Aleph Institute, founded in 1981, provides crucial support to approximately 15,000 Jews in the U.S. armed forces, including religious accommodation advocacy, Shabbat and holiday care packages, support for military families, and Torah study opportunities.
For further information, visit alephmilitary.org/symposium or alephmilitary.org/about-us/about-aleph/.
