Ford Host High Holy Days

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Perez | The Navy Jewish Worship Pennant flies over the U.S. flag on the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Sept. 27, 2022. Religious service pennants are the only pennants or flags that fly above the national ensign and only during religious services. Ford is underway in Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications and workups for a scheduled deployment this fall. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Daniel Perez)  

UNITED STATES

09.26.2022

Story by Chief Petty Officer Gary Prill 

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)           

ATLANTIC OCEAN — The first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) celebrated Rosh Hashana underway in the Atlantic Ocean with guest U.S. Navy Chaplian Rabbi Lt. Cmdr. Yonatan Warren hosting the religious services in the ship’s chapel.
Rosh Hashana is a two-day celebration marking the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days leading up to Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. This year, the holiday starts at sunset on Sunday, Sept. 25 and continues through Tuesday evening. The two-day celebration is called Yoma Arichta, which translates to a long day because the two days are thought of as one extended day.
“Rosh Hashana is the New Year, but not in the joyous ruckus way – in the reflective, stand-before-God-in-judgment-for-the-last-year kind of way,” said Warren “It represents the birthday of creation, and in that experience, there is appreciation of the passage of time and the eternity of God.”
Being aboard a U.S. Navy warship brings its own share of challenges for those following strict religious guidelines in support of their beliefs. The Service started aboard Ford with the blowing of the “Shofar” a ram’s-horn trumpet, which gets blown every day in the morning with the exception of the Sabbath.
“We blow the Shofar as a symbol of both recognition of the presence of the majesty of God and as a sort of alarm clock to wake us up from our spiritual slumber,” explained Warren.
Warren will be onboard Ford for the entirety of the 10-day period starting with Rosh Hashana and closing with Yom Kippur. As one of the few U.S. Navy Rabbis, he also hosted this celebration in 2013 during Operation Enduring Freedom at Camp Leatherneck and Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, and in 2014 aboard USS Peleliu (LHA-5).
Throughout the ship and the Navy, religions are widespread and nearly every denomination is recognized in some manner, from the culinary specialist assigned to supply department who makes special meals to support the Sailors to the Chaplains and religious program specialist who set up many of the services aboard the ship. Sailors from other department also provide lay-led services for their religious affiliations when traditional services or Chaplains are not available. One Sailor, Lt Michael Widroff, the ship’s phycologist, typically runs Jewish services aboard the ship.
When asked about how Widroff feels about observing Rash Hashana at sea, he responded, “It is bittersweet. I feel honored to work with such fine folks here in medical and aboard this mighty warship. It is such a privilege to be a part of something so important. I also love the opportunity to share my culture with other Sailors, Jewish or not. However, the high holy days (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur) have always been a time that I spend with my family, both in synagogue and at home, and it makes me a little sad that I will not be with them this year.”
“To end, I want to wish everyone: Shana Tova Tikasev v'nechasem l'chiam tovim u'lshalom (Have a good year and we should all be written and signed in the book of life, goodness, and peace),” added Widroff.
For more information about the USS Gerald R. Ford, visit https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/ and follow along on Facebook @USSGeraldRFord, Instagram @cvn78_grford, Twitter @Warship_78 and DVIDS https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/cvn78 .

• Date Taken: 09.26.2022
• Date Posted: 09.27.2022 17:45
• Story ID: 430210
• Location: US