Interfaith Efforts

Army chaplains were expected to provide spiritual guidance and healing to all soldiers regardless of religious affiliation. Chaplain McDonald was particularly sensitive to these needs, and was asked frequently to provide comfort and service to Jews, both military and civilian. A Jewish officer, Captain Abner Kurtin, who shared quarters with Frederick and came to know him well, once remarked, “Chaplain, what a great rabbi you might have been.”

Returning to Versailles, some Jews came to see me about reopening their synagogue which had been closed since the German’s 1940 victory… I was to open several synagogues during our traverse of Europe, and remember now with some surprise how often I was asked to make addresses at their Sabbath gatherings.

–Fred McDonald