Rabbi Commander Joel D. Newman, Chaplain of the U.S. Navy, had just recently returned from Afghanistan when he addressed the students at The Grauer School on October 8th.

Joel gave the students a brief history of the chaplaincy in the U.S. Armed Forces (since 1775) and explained what his duties entail when he is overseas supporting the troops.

He described the difficult conditions that the brave men and women are enduring in Afghanistan: aggressive enemy fire, extreme temperature conditions, difficult living situations, etc. and he explains why the area of the desert he visited is called “The Heart of Darkness”.

The Grauer School wants to thank Joel, and all the men and women in the Armed Forces, for serving our country in these difficult and dangerous times.

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