Central Powers Soldiers Celebrating Hanukkah on the Eastern Front in 1916

Jewish soldiers of the Central Powers of the German and Austrian-Hungary Empires
celebrating Hanukkah together on the Eastern Front in 1916 during the middle of World War I.
Photo courtesy of the S. Ajnwojner Collection at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Photographer unknown.

This outstanding historical group photo shows a gathering of Jewish soldiers of the World War I Central Powers serving in the armies of the German Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire celebrating the eighth day of Hanukkah (Wednesday, December 27, 1916) somewhere on the Eastern Front in Poland (or possibly Ukraine) in what was then the Russian Empire.

Since Jewish soldiers were scattered in relatively small numbers throughout the forces and there were so few Feldrabbiner (Field Rabbis) to serve them, the men would often have to travel a long way to celebrate their major festivals in heterogeneous groups like this one.

The Hanukkah Menorah in the center is being held by both a German Landsturm soldier on the right and a Austro-Hungarian soldier on the left to show the unity of the two empires placed on top a pile of snow with the Hebrew inscription "Hanukkah, 1916" written in coal.

On the left side of the Menorah is a Austro-Hungarian nurse who has the red and white Austrian ribbon for the Decoration for Services to the Red Cross on her coat. On the right side of the Menorah is a German volunteer field rabbi one of about 30 such individuals to serve with the German armies during World War I -- the Star of David can be seen on his field cap.

An estimated 100,000 German Jewish military personnel served in the German Army during World War I, of whom 12,000 were killed in action and an estimated 35,000 received accolades for their service -- including 18,000 were awarded the German Iron Cross. In the Austro-Hungarian army its estimated that about 300,000 Jewish men served with distinction.

Posted here on this site in eternal memory so that these men and their service and loyalty to their countries shall never be forgotten.

For all my Jewish readers worldwide, I would like to wish all of y'all a Chag Hanukkah Sameach!

Mourning Those Killed In Pittsburgh Terror Attack 10-27-2018

 In Loving Memory and Undying Remembrance

of those murdered in the senseless Tree of Life Synagogue shooting
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Saturday, October 27th of this year.

 

Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba. B’alma di v’ra chirutei, v’yamlich malchutei, b’chayeichon uv’yomeichon uv’chayei d’chol beit Yisrael,
baagala uviz’man kariv. V’im’ru: Amen.
Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya.
Yitbarach v’yishtabach v’yitpaar v’yitromam v’yitnasei, v’yit’hadar v’yitaleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’Kud’sha B’rich Hu, l’eila min kol birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata v’nechemata, daamiran b’alma. V’imru: Amen.
Y’hei sh’lama raba min sh’maya, v’chayim aleinu v’al kol Yisrael. V’imru: Amen.
Oseh shalom bimromav, Hu yaaseh shalom aleinu, v’al kol Yisrael. V’imru: Amen.

Exalted and hallowed be God’s great name in the world which God created, according to plan. May God’s majesty be revealed in the days of our lifetime and the life of all Israel -- speedily, imminently, to which we say: Amen.
Blessed be God’s great name to all eternity.
Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing, praise, and comfort. To which we say: Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and all Israel. To which we say: Amen.
May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace us and to all Israel. To which we say: Amen.

 The Hate Must End!