New London – Chaplain Jacob Goldstein, a retired colonel, will be the honored guest speaker at Congregation Ahavath Chesed’s Tribute to Jewish War Veterans at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Chaplain Goldstein will share many of his experiences from his 38 years of active military service. A discussion will follow his presentation, as well as recognition of veterans who are present. The event will conclude with a dessert reception.

Chaplain Goldstein was born in a Displaced Persons camp in Paris shortly after World War II. He attended the Rabbinical College of Canada, where he received a degree in Religious Education, and the Lubavich Rabbinical Seminary, where he received a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained as a Rabbi.

Beginning his military career in March 1977, he is the longest serving Jewish Chaplain in the US Military. He also serves as a Chaplain for the U.S. Secret Service, is an Assistant Commissioner of Housing for the State of New York and sits on many boards and institutions.

Goldstein served during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, Operation Desert Storm in Iraq where he read the Purim Megillah in one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces and the JTF Patriot Defender Task Force in Israel. He also served several deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait, served at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was Joint Task Force Katrina Staff Chaplain and was Senior Chaplain at “Ground Zero” for all military branches assigned to the World Trade Center. He is the recipient of numerous medals and awards, and retired with honors in 2015. After retirement, he was called back to officiate at 2016 Jewish New Year services in Korea.

The entire community including Jewish veterans and their families are invited to attend this special event. If you plan to attend, please email Joyce or Ivan Schmidt at joyce.schmidt@snet.net or phone them at (860) 691-1265 to make a reservation.

Congregation Ahavath Chesed is at 590 Montauk Avenue, New London.