The Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary Honors Military Chaplain Rabbi Judah Nadich with New Exhibit and a Salute to Veteran’s Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Eve Glasberg
Office: (212) 678-8089
Email: evglasberg@jtsa.edu

October 26, 2011, New York, NY

The new Judah Nadich: Rabbi, Military Chaplain, and Community Builder exhibit at The Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) honors Rabbi Judah Nadich (z”l), United States Army senior Jewish chaplain in Europe during World War II, adviser to General Dwight D. Eisenhower on Jewish Affairs, and JTS alum (ordination, 1936; doctorate in Hebrew Literature, 1953). The show also celebrates the completion of the processing of the Rabbi Judah Nadich Archives at The Library and this year’s Veteran’s Day salute to military heroes and heroines. The exhibit opening will be held at JTS on November 7, 2011, at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to his work at displaced persons camps and with President Eisenhower, Rabbi Nadich is also known for helping women carve out a role within Judaism’s Conservative Movement. He implored the International Association of Conservative Rabbis, of which he was president, to allow the ordination of women as Conservative Jewish rabbis. JTS ordained its first female rabbi in 1985.

The opening night program for the Judah Nadich exhibit will feature keynote speaker Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, captain, Chaplain Corps, USN (Ret.), and former Special Assistant (Values and Vision) to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. His presentation, “Faith and Foxholes: Religion in the Military,” will combine history and policy with anecdotes and personal experiences that provide a glimpse into the role of the chaplain and the challenges and opportunities facing personnel who want to be loyal to their faith at the same time they are loyal to their country. The evening’s events will open with an introduction by Dr. Sarah Diamant, Administrative Librarian for Special Collections at The Library, and include readings from Rabbi Nadich’s Eisenhower and the Jews by members of his family: Leah Nadich Meir, Shira Nadich Levin, and Nahma Nadich. Lastly, Yonina Creditor, Ensign United States Navy, will discuss “Chaplaincy Today at JTS.” The program and exhibit are sponsored by friends and family of Rabbi Judah Nadich and Hadassah Ribalow Nadich (z”l).

The exhibit will run from November 7 through February 7 in the Eleanore and Ollie A. Cohen Exhibit Lounge at JTS (3080 Broadway at 122nd street) and is open to the public. Admission to the exhibit and opening is free, but reservations are required. RSVP to Hector Guzman, heguzman@jtsa.edu or (212) 678-8075 by November 1, 2011. Please bring photo ID.

Visit JTS at www.jtsa.edu
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