“Go Forth” was created by Clal in response to an invitation from the then Chief of Chaplains, Major General Thomas L. Solhjem of the United States Army Chaplain’s Office. It also seeks to better serve the emergent needs of the 450,000 active-duty soldiers, particularly in light of the mental health crises affecting all military branches, with a focus on incoming recruits and early-career soldiers. Additionally, “Go Forth” helps chaplains serve a wide variety of personnel while maintaining their own personal religious practices. Experts from various fields have redesigned Army leadership training, addressing the Pentagon’s commitment to spiritual readiness alongside physical, psychological and professional preparedness.

The United States Army Chaplain’s office enlisted Clal as a lead contributor to their urgent efforts. What began with an occasional one-off lecture to specific training groups has blossomed into a full-fledged partnership. This represents an unprecedented opportunity for a Jewish organization to serve the entire cadre, regardless of religion or rank.

Our initiative steps into a rich military tradition of honoring diverse faiths, dating back to General George Washington’s directive against religious discrimination in the Continental Army. This tradition continues through powerful stories like that of “The Four Chaplains”—two Protestant ministers, a Catholic priest, and a rabbi—who heroically died together after saving as many men as possible when the USS Dorchester was sunk in 1943.
Clal is proud to partner with the US Army in continuing to advance that cause today, through “Go Forth,” named for God’s call to Abraham to “go forth” and be a blessing to the nations.