By Jeff Lipton
Tabio, 25, a law school student from Miami, is close friends with Jordan Rosenbaum, son of Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, Temple Israel's spiritual leader. They attended college together at Columbia and have stayed in touch, with Tabio attending Rosenbaum's wedding party at Temple Israel in January.
After Tabio was shipped to northern Iraq to enter combat, Rosenbaum said he greatly admired his friend's courage and his dedication to his country. I'm just very proud of him and his decision going to defend our country, he said. He's always been very patriotic. Doing his duty for his country and for his fellow man has always been important to him.
Tabio is a second-year student at the University of Florida Law School in Gainesville, and he put his studies on hold to report to combat duty.
Rabbi Rosenbaum said the temple, led by the religious school, has decided to adopt Tabio and his unit, the Marines' 4th Anglico Platoon. The students at the religious school and members of the congregation hoped to write about 1,800 letters of support and prayer, symbolizing life, to the troops. In addition, the temple is assembling a care package of needed items to send to the soldiers, including baby wipes, hand lotion, sun screen, Visine, Chap Stick, powdered Gatorade, bug repellent and foot powder. Rabbi Rosenbaum said he made the announcement to his congregation at last Friday night's religious services.
It's our obligation as Americans to support those who are prepared to pay the ultimate sacrifice for our security, safety and blessed way of life, the rabbi said. It also shows that all Americans, regardless of religion, race or ethnic background, are in this together. What happens to one person of faith anywhere affects all people of faith everywhere. We, as Americans, are united in this.
He said Tabio's family members are refugees from Cuba, having fleed Fidel Castro's regime.
Reached at her home in Florida, Tabio's mother, Digna Lidia Tabio, expressed her heart-felt gratitude toward Temple Israel, Rabbi Rosenbaum and his son. I think it's beautiful, and it's very thoughtful of them. I will always remember this day, she said in a phone interview. They need the support there, and coming from a religious way like this would be wonderful.
She said her son and Jordan Rosenbaum are like brothers.
She said her son, who has been in the Marines for about four years, has another year to go in law school and has volunteered to serve in the military. Tabio and his 30 fellow platoon members from West Palm Beach, Fla., were deployed last Thursday. It was very painful when he told me he was leaving [for Iraq], his mother said. I was sweating. It is very hard for me.
Before he left, Juan Carlos, who is also known as J.C., left a list with his mother of supplies he would need, such as eye drops. She was so appreciative that the temple said it would get the supplies to her son and his fellow Marines.
Rosenbaum said of J.C., He's always been dedicated to what he was doing, whether it was as a member of the Columbia University football team or to his studies. He took time out of his college to do his stint in the Marines. In his dedication to his studies, he has shown that he understands the importance of education but he also understands the importance of freedom.
My wife and I think he's a real American hero, said Rosenbaum, who will graduate from NYU Law School in May.
Rabbi Rosenbaum said, The war in Iraq is part of a war on international terrorism which America has been waging since Sept. 11, and it affects the lives of all Americans.
I really appreciate what Jordan and his father are doing, and the congregation Ñ it really, really means a lot to me, said Ms. Tabio.
