In 10th grade as a high schooler in Rockland County, NY, Alan Kahan made his career choice — he wanted to be a military chaplain.

Rabbi Maj. Alan Kahan is a chaplain at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. (Steve Mark)
Rabbi Maj. Alan Kahan is a chaplain at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. (Steve Mark)

Mission accomplished.

He is both a rabbi and a Major.

After being ordained at New England Rabbinical College in 2012, Kahan became chaplain at a number of stops: the Air National Guard in Providence, RI; Joint Base San Antonio; Ramstein, Germany; and Fort Meade, Md. All this led to his appointment in May, 2024 as Chief, Plans and Programs for the Cadet Wing at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

“I remember having a conversation while I was in 10th grade,” remembers Kahan. “Originally, I wanted to be an Army chaplain with the 82nd Airborne and work up to regiment.

“I joined right away, at the earliest opportunity, not just to work with the Jewish community, but also to be a faith leader amongst other faith leaders and to work well together and help Jews as well as non-Jews.

“Navigating military life in accordance with one’s faith is just a unique opportunity. You don’t get that in the civilian side.”

When we met with Kahan outside his office at the Air Force Academy, the rabbi was dressed in camouflage gear (he has a tallis that is camouflage, too). His position at the Air Force includes the job description of being on active duty, like any member of the armed forces, he has to be ready for an assignment, anytime, anywhere.

“There have been different times we’ve been in, what we call combat pay,” says Kahan. “It is such a different situation of counseling people and guiding them.

“One time (the rabbi prefers not to disclose specific missions or locations) we were hunkered down in a bunker, waiting for some incoming fire,” remembers Kahan. “There were significant size caliber rounds coming.

“My job is being able to connect with these soldiers and just check on them, to be able to say, ‘Hey, we’re all in this together,’ I’m a friendly person who’s here to offer a listening ear and and offer whatever support I can, it’s impactful.”

No doubt, you are wondering whether, when the rabbi sometimes finds himself in dangerous positions on a deployment, he is armed.

He is not. That part of self-defense is not allowed in US military.

“As chaplains, we are non-combatants,” says Kahan, “so I’m not allowed to carry a gun.

“I’m usually given a member of religious affairs who helps me with different religious programming. One of their duties is that they are charged with the safety of the chaplain.

“It’s good that you have people who vicariously carry (a gun) for you.”

Kahan, who is Orthodox, is available to all 25 Jewish cadets on campus.

“Everything we do is focused on, ‘How are we making our community better? How are we connecting with one another? How are we growing in that connection?’ says Kahan.

“When it comes to faith, Judaism’s a very community-based religion. The academy will make sure they’re going to be leaders in the Air Force and in the military, but I want them to be Jewish leaders as well.

“So, it doesn’t mean necessarily running a JCC. It could be just leading a Shabbat service or doing a kiddush,” says Kahan. “We give them many opportunities in different roles to lead so that they get that experience and they’re comfortable being a Jewish leader as well.

“The service I lead is not traditional Orthodox, and it’s not Reform. Most of the cadets come from a Reform or Conservative background, so for me to give them a meaningful service means it is one they can all understand.”

Kahan and his wife, Zippy, have four kids, who are home schooled. The Kahan family lives at the Air Force base — something the rabbi says benefits both his cadets and his family.

“This is our third time living on a base, and my kids love it,” says Kahan.

“They are always looking at the planes, the gliders, and they love watching the jumpers. At one of our other bases, our house was on the approach, and we used to have planes literally buzzing our house.

“We often have cadets come by the house for Shabbat kiddush. Or, they’ll come by if they just want to talk. They all know where I live, and I welcome them to frequent our house for whatever they need.

“We want to give them help with family orientation, locally. They can’t always get paired up with Jewish families in the Springs or elsewhere, so it’s very important for them to know my family is here for them, even if it is just to have a place to hang out or watch TV.

“It gives them a place to relax.”

The young man from 10th grade is now in his mid-30s. He has long reached his goal, though, no doubt, far from his pinnacle.

“I’m here to be able to support all cadets, whether they’re Jewish or not,” says Kahan, “or whatever movement of Judaism they are in.

“Finding a way to connect them with faith and to help them grow and be leaders, yeah, that’s what my job is.”

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