Chapter II: Preface

This book is the result of the profound conviction that we are forgetting or ignoring the lessons of the World War to Israel, America and humanity. During the war such words as morale, democracy, Americanism, became a sort of cant--so much so that their actual content was forgotten. Now that the war is over and their constant repetition is discontinued, the grave danger exists that we may lose their very real influence.

These personal experiences and conclusions worked out by an army chaplain as a result of his overseas service may have some historical value also, especially as the same ground has not yet been covered by any Jewish chaplain or welfare worker in the American Expeditionary Forces. The role played by Jews in the army and navy of the United States and the Jewish contribution to the morale of the forces overseas deserve preservation, both as a reminder to ourselves and to the nation.

When the possibility of this book was first discussed in Paris with the late Colonel Harry Cutler, Chairman of the Jewish Welfare Board, he spoke of writing a foreword for it. Since his lamented death, Dr. Cyrus Adler, his successor as acting Chairman, has consented to fulfill the same friendly task. In addition to Dr. Adler, I acknowledge my great indebtedness to Mr. Harry L. Glucksman, Executive Director of the Jewish Welfare Board, for giving me full access to their records; to Mr. John Goldhaar for his personal reminiscences of the welfare work overseas; to Captain Elkan C. Voorsanger for the invaluable suggestions based upon his vast personal experiences; to Justice Irving Lehman, President of the Young Men's Hebrew Association, for his encouragement and friendly advice; to a host of coworkers and friends in both France and America for the brilliant deeds and cordial comradeship which are here embodied; and finally to my secretary, Miss Hattie Tanzer, for her invaluable assistance in seeing the book through the press.

Much of the material used here has already been published in the form of articles appearing at various times in the _American Hebrew_, _American Israelite_, _Biblical World_, _B'nai B'rith News_, _Hebrew Standard_, _Jewish Forum_ and _Reform Advocate_.

LEE J. LEVINGER. New York, May, 1921.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE CHAPLAIN'S FUNCTION 1
II. THE JEWISH HOLYDAYS OF 1918 IN THE A. E. F. 10
III. AT THE FRONT WITH THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DIVISION 27
IV. AFTER THE ARMISTICE 52
V. AT THE AMERICAN EMBARKATION CENTER 69
VI. THE JEWISH CHAPLAINS OVERSEAS 81
VII. THE JEWISH WELFARE BOARD IN THE A. E. F. 92
VIII. THE JEW AS A SOLDIER 114
IX. JEW AND CHRISTIAN AT THE FRONT 132
X. THE RELIGION OF THE JEWISH SOLDIER 145
XI. PREACHING TO SOLDIERS 160
XII. MORALE AND MORALS 170
XIII. THE MORAL GAIN AND LOSS OF THE SOLDIER 190
XIV. THE JEWISH SOLDIER AND JUDAISM 205
XV. THE JEWISH SOLDIER AND ANTI-SEMITISM 214