All too often we hear stories of the hate and inhumanity that pervade society and the world. Occasionally a bright light shines and sets a standard for us all to follow. In Judaism we call such acts Kiddish HaShem, sanctication of G-d’s Holy Name. In our community one such example was set by Rabbi Mitch Schranz who was recently awarded the Virginia Commendation Medal by General Richard Diddams on behalf of Governor Glen Youngkin. Chaplain saved the life of a disabled, elderly Vietnam veteran in May 2023. Since then he personally took charge of getting this ailing veteran on his feet, providing his meals, jump starting his government benets, and just making him believe his life was worth living.
Rabbi Mitch has lived a life worthy of being the subject of a Hollywood production. At age 25 he became the youngest chaplain in the U.S. Navy. At the Naval Chaplains School in Newport, RI he was voted class Honor Graduate by 90 Christian chaplain classmates. He spent the next thirty years serving in the most challenging and dangerous assignments, including eleven years with Marines, and on ships at sea. After 911 he volunteered to serve in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa.
Throughout his long military career, he reached out to help thousands of youngsters, regardless of race, religion, background. Senior commanders sought his counsel and practical insight when making important decisions impacting personnel and their families, and sensitive religious issues in our recent wars. They must have recognized his innate intelligence and ability to oer practical solutions in stressful situations.
Chaplain's has a gift for making everyone feel important and that they are in the safe hands of a soldier-protector. People are happy to be in his presence—I’ve seen it repeatedly.
Chaplain has witnessed and experienced things in war-torn places and third world countries that most of us couldn’t imagine. It is obvious his faith in G-d and love of people strengthened him to be there for our men and women in harm’s way, and to help them through the emotional impact of war. The medals and ribbons on his uniform speak silently of a humble man who has been there, done that. When President G.W. Bush was informed of his contributions, he sent one of his White House aides to represent him and the First Lady at Chaplain's retirement ceremony and to deliver personal greetings and gratitude.
Now Chaplain is the head chaplain of the Virginia Defense Force-National Guard Chaplain Services. As such he leads and mentors young chaplain teams of various faith groups across the commonwealth. He was the rst rabbi to hold such a position.
Chaplain says he is just an ordinary Bronx yeshiva bochur from a poor family, the youngest of seven siblings. His dad immigrated from Lemberg (now Lviv, Ukraine) in 1919, and his mom and her family came from Bilgerai, Poland after WW1. That region had a huge Jewish population and vibrant Jewish life. It was all decimated during the Shoah at the nearby killing centers of Sorbibor, Treblinka, and Chelmo. With all his achievements, what makes him most proud was creating a Chevra Kaddisha in Hawaii and the Philippines; and on a happier note, making several shidduchim (matches). The lifesaving event is the essence of how we are all supposed to live in this world. It made absolutely no dierence to Rabbi Mitch that this man was not Jewish, destitute, and homeless. He just saw a human being in need and did his best to do something about it.
Now that anti-semitism is at an all time high, it is imperative that we tell the story of Jews like Chaplain who have gone above and beyond to serve our nation and to make the world and the community we live in a better place.
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