Remembrance Day, minus religion: Why faith-based prayers are nixed from Canadian military ceremonies this year

This year, Remembrance Day ceremonies, including at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, will feel a little different for a number of reasons. The biggest change? Military chaplains who officiate at mandatory public events can no longer recite faith-specific religious prayers for soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in battle. Prayers are now to be called “spiritual reflections”, using non-religious, gender-neutral words. Chaplains can no longer wear their traditional purple sashes with symbols of their faith atop their uniforms. While the changes have been on the books for some time, they weren't being enforced, until now. The changes have prompted renewed backlash from a senior Catholic chaplain and from the Conservative Party, who decried this secularization of the Canadian Armed Forces. But military officials say their goal is to be more inclusive of personnel of all different faiths—plus those who practise no religion at all. On today’s episode of The CJN Daily, we consult three Jewish leaders involved in Remembrance Day events and the legacy of Rabbi Reuven Bulka, who delivered a short benediction to the nation on Nov. 11 for nearly three decades, until his death in 2021. We’ll hear from Rabbi Idan Scher, who will deliver the official benediction today; Captain (Rabbi) Arnold Noteh Glogauer, Jewish chaplain at CFB Petawawa; and Jon Mitzmacher, the principal at Ottawa’s Community Jewish School, where a new curriculum unit honours Rabbi Bulka’s legacy of kindness.

What we talked about:

• Read more in The CJN about the Hurwitz family of Montreal, whose son Sgt. Samuel “Moe” (KIA 1944) made the ultimate sacrifice, and about a younger brother, naval gunner Harry (taken POW in 1944) who were both honoured as Canadian Jewish heroes during a recent Remembrance Day ceremony in Hampstead, Quebec.
• The late Rabbi Reuven Bulka, considered as Canada’s Rabbi, died in June 2021. Catch up on The CJN’s coverage of his legacy here, his obituary, and here.
• Canada enshrined Kindness Week into law in May 2021 in honour of Rabbi Bulka, on The CJN Daily.

Credits

• Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner)
• Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Dov Beck-Levine

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