Rabbi Bonnie Koppell

Describing her role as a military chaplain, Rabbi Koppell stated:

Chaplains are noncombatants - we do not carry weapons, we are not trained to fight. We are there to minister to the religious needs of the troops and, as such, we are an essential part of the military force. No one likes war, no one wants war. No one prays for peace with more fervor than the soldier who stands ready to lay down his or her life for our country.

Yet, I am not a pacifist; I believe that there are times when war is justified. War is always a horrible tragedy, but it is not necessarily immoral. I am proud to consider among my many identities as wife, as mother, as rabbi, as teacher, as friend, yet another - as an American soldier. G-d forbid the need should arise, our Jewish soldiers deserve to have rabbis who are trained and ready to deploy alongside them, to be there to offer all the support they will need. I am proud to be among those who stand ready to go with them.

Rabbi Koppell performs a havdalah ceremony at Fort Huachuca, AZ.

Bonnie Koppell joined the Army Reserves in 1978 while a Rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, Bonnie headed to the U.S. Army Chaplain School at Fort Wadsworth/ Fort Hamilton, New York. Upon graduation, Rabbi Koppell became the first female rabbi to serve in the United States military and later was given the title of chaplain..

During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Rabbi Koppell was placed on active duty and ordered to report to the Academy of Health Sciences, a unit of the 5th Army Headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, near San Antonio, Texas. There, preparations were underway to med-evac an anticipated "massive" amount of American casualties resulting from a planned major ground offensive against Iraq. Bonnie was to provide for the spiritual needs of the sick and wounded, as the only rabbi on staff.

After being released from active duty, she was assigned to the 164th Corps Support Group in Mesa, Arizona. In 2001-2002, Rabbi Koppell was in the midst of an expected year-long tour at Fort Huachuca, AZ, in support of Operation Noble Eagle. She subsequently served as Staff Chaplain for the 37th TRANSCOM from May 2003-September 2004 before assuming a similar post with the Fifth Army. Koppell also had a tour of duty in Iraq in 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. She has received numerous awards and citations, including:

Meritorious Service Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster (2002)
Army Commendation Medal (1997)
Army Achievement Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster (1993)
National Defense Service Medal (1992)
Army Service Ribbon (1979)
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (1984)
Honorable Order of Saint Martin, Association of Quartermasters (1999)
Outstanding Volunteer Service (2000)

Koppell is the rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom in Chandler, AZ. Her current rank is Colonel.

Sources: Courtesy of the Jewish Women's Archives, Jewish War Veterans and Rabbi Bonnie Koppell.