A Veterans Reunion at JUSA Chabad House in Baltimore

When Chaplain (COL) Yankel Goldstein (Ret) visited Baltimore for the JUSA Chabad House annual Veterans Shabbaton, a chance meeting from 1989 came full circle — inspiring a weekend of gratitude and connection.

Every year, on the Shabbos before Veterans Day, the JUSA Chabad House in Baltimore hosts its annual Veterans Shabbaton, honoring Jewish service members and their families. This year, JUSA was privileged to host Chaplain (COL) Rabbi Yankel Goldstein, Ret., the longest-serving Jewish chaplain in the U.S. Armed Forces. Chaplain Goldstein shared incredible stories from his decades of service — from his time as Chief Chaplain at Ground Zero to the unforgettable moment he sat on Saddam Hussein’s golden throne during the Iraq War. His words captivated, inspired, and uplifted everyone in attendance. Over 100 veterans and guests joined Baltimore Shluchim Rabbi Chesky and Chani Tenenbaum, founders of the Jewish Uniformed Services Association of Maryland–Chabad (JUSA), for a meaningful Shabbos celebrating faith, service, and resilience.

During the Shabbos meal, a touching full-circle moment unfolded when Donna, a longtime supporter of Jewish service members, shared her personal connection to Rabbi Goldstein dating back more than three decades. While stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1989, she met Chaplain (COL) Rabbi Sanford “Sandy” Dresin (Ret) and later Chaplain Goldstein who was sent by the US Army to lead Jewish services. It was Chaplain Goldstein who introduced her to Chabad and ignited her lifelong spiritual journey.

Fast-forward thirty-three years. In her Maryland community, Donna wanted to do something special for a young man leaving for military service. Her local shliach, Rabbi Yanky Baron of Chabad of Ellicott City, connected her with Rabbi Tenenbaum of JUSA, who helped her prepare a camouflage-themed care package filled with Jewish essentials and encouragement. “The soldier and his family were so touched by the community’s support,” Donna recalled. Soon after, she became an active JUSA volunteer, helping pack and deliver shalach manos to service members and first responders.

At her first Veterans Shabbos, Donna mentioned having once met a Chabad rabbi in Germany only to discover he was Rabbi Tenenbaum’s uncle, Chaplain Goldstein. This year, as Chaplain Goldstein returned to JUSA as Veterans Shabbos scholar-in-residence, Donna reunited with him after thirty-four years. “To see him again and tell him he was my first Shliach was such a blessing,” she said. “It reminded me how every connection in Yiddishkeit truly lasts a lifetime.”