Help Our Soldiers!

This appeal has been retired, as Master Sargent Goldenberg is on his way back home. Or at least retired until we learn of a new contact.

Updated after first round of purchases!

I just received the following request via aishdas.org’s “contact us” form. Aside from an opportunity to help the religiously thirsty, for those of us in the US, or support what the US is doing in Afghanistan, it’s an opportunity for hakaras hatov (recognizing the good) performed by these soldiers. Let’s see what we can do for these men and women in uniform.

To avoid spam, I’m deleting Master Sergeant Goldenberg’s email address. If you wish to help via AishDas, you can ask me for contact info.

Name: Stephen Goldenberg
Email: …

Message:

Shalom,

My name is Stephen Goldenberg; I am currently deployed to Afghanistan and I will be here for a total of 9 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

There are about 18 US Soldiers living on our small outpost here. The rest are Afghanistan Police and Army. We only get resupplied about every 10 days that includes food and water and mail. My duties and responsibilities are to Serve as a Deputy Chief, Security Forces Assistance Team in support of phase IV and V contingency operations during Operation Enduring Freedom XII Afghanistan; providing a partnering/ mentoring capability to help build, train, advise and assist indigenous civil and military organizations, enabling the host nation officials assume responsibility for stability operations; I am working with over 1300 of their Uniformed Police.

My other role here is a Jewish Lay Leader; we do not have any Jewish support as of this time. There within my unit are a total 8 Jewish Soldiers. Most of the time we do not get together due to mission requirements and we are dispersed within different areas of operations. I live in Texas and I am a member of an Orthodox Shul.

The elderly gentleman I am standing with told me that his son was killed by Taliban, he asked me if I would find them and kill them. I told him of course I will that’s why I am here!

This is also some of the area that am I deployed to.

It would be nice to receive some Orthodox Seforim (Talmud, Torah), magazines and kosher food. You can also write to me at ….

My mailing address is,
MSG GOLDENBERG STEPHEN J.
TF MAVERICK OCCP
BAGRAM AIRFIELD
APO, AE 09354

From a followup email:

Here is the list hopefully its not too much. …

Sefarim Requested-

• (Bought) Kav HaYashar 2 volume set
• (Bought) The Halachot of the Ben Ish Hai
• Anshei Hayil
• Shemirath Shabbath- a guide to practical observance of Sabbath
• (Bought) Yad Avraham Mishnah series #25: Tractates Avodah Zarah, Horayos (Seder Nezikin)
• (Bought)  Schottenstein Daf Yomi Ed Talmud English:
•  #52 Avodah Zara Vol 1 2a-40b
• #53 Avodah Zara vol 2 40b-76b
• #54 Horayos and Eduyos 2a-14a
• (Bought) The Kleinman Edition Kitzur Shulcan Aruch- Code of Jewish Law Complete 5 volume slip cased set

Kosher food- as much as you can send,
Grape Juice/Wine please would be nice for Kiddush. (Wine poses legal issues, so it’s dropped from the list)
Holy Cow Kosher Beef Jerky would be best.
…
I am really hoping that the Jewish community can see there are Frum Jews out here on the front lines trying to make a difference and still being observant. I have included a few photos of myself.

Again, to donate to the cause: