ALL>> On Tuesday, May 23, Rabbi and Chaplain Bonnie Koppell, the first female rabbi to serve as a Chaplain in the US military, will deliver the 31st Annual Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Memorial Lecture at 7:30 pm at Congregation Emanu El, 1495 Ford Street in Redlands.
The topic of her presentation will be “Army Chaplain: What Kind of Job is That for a Nice Jewish Girl?” The free lecture is open to the public.
Rabbi Koppell was ordained as a rabbi by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1981, at which time she entered the military chaplaincy in which she has served for 38 years. She rose to the rank of Colonel, a rank she continues to hold in the United States Army Reserve.
During the course of her military service Rabbi Koppell was deployed to such posts as Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. She was awarded numerous military awards including three Meritorious Service
medals, two Army Achievement medals, two Legion of Merit Awards, the Army Commendation Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.
Chaplain Koppell retired in 2015 but continues to serve as Command Chaplain for the 870th Medical Command in addition to serving as Associate Rabbi of Temple Chai in Phoenix.
The Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Memorial Lecture was established in 1985 at the time of the death of Rabbi Feldheym and has been held annually. The lectures have sought to deal with some of the special interests of Rabbi Feldheym including interfaith activities, Jungian psychology, dreams and art.
Feldheym served as rabbi of Congregation Emanu El from 1937 to 1971 after which he served as rabbi emeritus of the congregation until his death in 1985. His service to the
congregation was interrupted twice as he served as a military chaplain in World War II as well as the Korean conflict. He received the Bronze Star as well as six battle medals. He was one of the
chaplains who were involved with the liberation of the Nazi death camps in Europe. Rabbi Feldheym was acknowledged as one of the key spiritual and community leaders of the Inland
Empire. The Central Public Library of San Bernardino was named in his honor in recognition of his notable community leadership. 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Jewish Welfare Board which provides for the needs of Jewish personnel in all branches of the military. Congregation Emanu El traces its beginnings back to the arrival of the first Jews to
Southern California in 1851. It was formally chartered in 1891 and was located in San Bernardino until 2013 when it built its new facility in Redlands.