Pen-Pal Soldier was Yeshiva Alum

Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

WORCESTER — From a child’s perspective, the world can seem like a pretty big place to live in.

Monica Freund Kaufman’s fifth-graders at the Yeshiva Academy recently learned, however, that the globe might be a bit smaller than they thought.

The seven pupils this spring began a pen-pal campaign and sent care packages to American soldiers of Jewish descent serving in Afghanistan.

To their surprise, one of the servicemen who wrote back — Capt. Moshe Lans, the Army chaplain serving at Camp Marmal — actually had attended the Newton Square Yeshiva.

“I really believe that it was a case of divine intervention,” said Yeshiva Rabbi Mendel Fogelman of the correspondence from Capt. Lans. “Nothing happens by itself. God has a hand in everything.”

In letters to Ms. Kaufman and Shaina Fogelman, the rabbi’s daughter, Capt. Lans described his experiences as a Yeshiva student and his responsibilities as a chaplain.

“Most of us in Leominster were unobservant but I believe today (that) all of us who went to school in Worcester have a deep love for the Rebbe and Judaism,” wrote Capt. Lans, a Leominster native who now lives in Texas.

Ms. Kaufman said she wanted to teach her students how to properly write a letter and thought the pen-pal campaign was a good way to do it.

She said the students hooked up with the soldiers at Camp Marmal, which houses a combat aviation brigade, through the Jewish War Veterans of America.

In his correspondence, Capt. Lans said he feels “very connected to the school” and can still fondly remember the Torah lessons taught by the teachers. He said he particularly recalled Morah Gita, his pre-school teacher.

Rabbi Mendel Fogelman said he remembers car pooling a handful of students from Leominster about 30 years ago, including Capt. Lans.

“Today’s Jewish service members could not exist without the love and support of our fellow countrymen like you,” said Cap. Lans in a letter to Ms. Kaufman. “Thank you for becoming a teacher and having a profound impact on raising fine young mentchlich yidden.”

Capt. Lans told Shaina a chaplain’s duties include ensuring that every soldier has what is needed in order to worship his or her religion and added that he is available to help counsel servicemen.

“I am always looking to see how their spirits are holding up in the war. … Are they happy or sad?” he wrote.

Capt. Lans said his wife, Laurie, is in the U.S. Navy and is also stationed in Afghanistan.

He noted that the couple publishes a weekly Jewish newsletter and he added the Yeshiva to the publication’s email distribution list.

In their letters to the soldiers, the children said they shared various aspects of their lives.

Shaina Fogelman talked about her grandfather (Rabbi Hershel Fogelman) establishing the local Yeshiva while 11 year-old Mendel Schaeffer said he talked about his family.

“It was really cool,” said Zalman Lipschitz of the pen-pal effort.

Capt. Lans passed out the students letters at the Passover seder.

The other students participating in the project are Zeesy Phillips, Nechami Kimelman, Devora Fogelman, and Moishi Green.

The students hope to send another package to the soldiers later in the school year. They paid for the first package by collecting recyclable bottles.