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CONTACT:Ilya
Welfeld WEST POINT GRADUATE & RHODES SCHOLAR HAS STRONG NJOP TIES NEW YORK; Nov. 26 -- Among the 32 American college students named as Rhodes Scholars this past weekend is Daniel Helmer, 22, a Jewish graduate of the U.S. Military Academy who helped to coordinate Shabbat Across America at West Point earlier this year. Helmer could be sent to Iraq in the next 30 days. Organized annually by the National Jewish Outreach Program, Shabbat Across America is a national event held at hundreds of synagogues and locations, during which tens of thousands of Jews from all walks of life are introduced to the joys of the Jewish Sabbath. The grandson of Holocaust survivors, Second Lt. Helmer's paternal grandfather was a soldier in the British army and an officer in the Israeli Army. Helmer, from Colts Neck, N.J., himself has a strong Jewish identity. In addition to participation in Shabbat Across America, Helmer was the president of Hillel at West Point and, along with Chaplain (Major) Carlos Huerta, coordinated the now annual Jewish Warrior Weekend where civilian college students visit the United States Military Academy for a weekend to learn about American Jewish military heritage. "Daniel Helmer is an incredible role model," says Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald, director and founder of the National Jewish Outreach Program. "Rather than downplaying his Judaism, Daniel chose to celebrate his identity and reach out to fellow Jews in the military. As a community, we should be exceedingly proud of his accomplishments as a scholar, as a soldier, and as a Jew. I wish him much success in all his endeavors, and offer my prayers for his safe return home from Iraq or wherever he may serve." Helmer, who studied military history and Arabic at West Point, plans to pursue international relations or peace and development studies at Oxford. Currently stationed in Fort Knox, he is available for interviews to discuss his experiences as a Jewish scholar and soldier, as well as his thoughts and feelings on the eve of possible deployment to Iraq. ###
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