On a warm and dry December day in southern Kuwait, close to 40 soldiers, sailors and marines training at Camp Arifjan gathered to celebrate Chanukah. They lit menorahs, engaged in dreidel-spinning contests, savored home-fried potato latkes and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and discussed how the story of Chanukah relates to their lives and needs in the military.
This year’s Chanukah celebration in Kuwait was led by U.S. Army Captain Elisar Admon, a chaplain endorsed by the Chabad-Lubavitch-affiliated Aleph Institute—the leading Jewish organization supporting Jewish soldiers in the United States.
When, more than a year ago, Admon learned from Aleph’s military personnel liaison Rabbi Elie Estrin of the possibility of a deployment to Kuwait for Chanukah, he immediately signed up to help raise the troops’ morale and bring the “Festival of Lights” and cheer to the men and women on the distant American military base.
