“For us to be able to work with The Aleph Institute in commissioning a Rabbi of this caliber is a real asset for us,” said Chaplain (Col) John Owings, The Joint Forces Chaplain for Georgia, over the Army and Air National Guard and State Defense Force. “I have a high degree of trust in the ability of Chabad Rabbis to provide pastoral care to the Jewish community and people of all faiths. Rabbi Lipskier is already working with the student body at Emory and doing excellent work. We will do everything we can to support him and ensure that he is on equal footing with all religious denominations.”

With no Jewish chaplains to serve the 13,500 troops in Georgia’s National Guard, Rabbi Lipskier, in the spirit of all military Chaplains, will provide critical chaplaincy services for soldiers and their families, as needed, regardless of religious denomination across the entire spectrum of Army and Air National Guard, as well as the Georgia State Defense Force. He will assist soldiers deploying to and returning from combat zones. “I’ll be there for them,” he said, “for them and their families – when they go out and when they return safely, God willing.”

The appointment of an orthodox Rabbi to military Chaplaincy comes with an untraditional waiver to allow facial hair. “It’s a matter of having authentic Jewish representation in the Defense Force, or not,” said Commanding General Michael McGuinn about Rabbi Lipskier’s beard. “Rabbi Lipskier is a fine, fine man, and he will perform a tremendous service for the troops. We’re thrilled to have him join us.”

Rabbi Lipskier was formally commissioned on March 2 into Chaplaincy service at a graduation ceremony at The State Department Defense Complex in Atlanta. Lipskier says that he is grateful for the accommodations that the Defense Force made for him to attend training on Sunday instead of Saturday in order to honor the holy Sabbath.