Chabad of Venice is honored to welcome back Chaplain Eli Estrin as our High Holiday Chazan. But who is the man behind the melodic prayers?
In 2014, Rabbi Eli Estrin was featured in the Jerusalem Post and other national publications when he made history as the first bearded chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, breaking a 30-year beard ban. Since then, Eli has traveled the world, written a book, and helped countless men and women in the military as a recognized liaison for every imaginable Jewish need.
Before donning his chaplain uniform, however, Estrin served as a Chabad campus rabbi at the University of Washington. Day and night, he and his wife were there for the thousand-plus Jewish students on campus.
Due to his baby’s rare heart condition, Eli and his family stepped down from their role at UW, transitioning into his current position, serving Jews all across the US military as the informal Chabad Rabbi of America’s armed forces. Today, he’s assigned to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL.
From Air Force bases to naval aircraft carriers, no room in the military is closed to Rabbi Eli. During last year’s High Holiday services, he shared many remarkable stories. He told how he saved a lonely Jewish marine from solitary confinement, and how he was able to airlift a kosher meal to a Jewish coast guard in Alaska. This year, we’re excited to hear the latest from his travels.
Join us on October 2–4 for Rosh Hashana service with Rabbi Eli, as well as Yom Kippur on October 11–12th.
