The military chaplain of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine represented the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the IJMCC – 1st International Jewish Military Chaplains Conference in Berlin.

The chaplain of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine and the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yakov Sinyakov, participated in the 1st International Jewish Military Chaplains Conference (IJMCC).

The event took place in Berlin from November 24–27, 2025, under the aegis of structures cooperating with NATO, and became an important step in strengthening international cooperation in the field of military chaplaincy.

Sinyakov was invited as an official representative of the Ukrainian army, as he is the only active Jewish military chaplain in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and serves in the elite 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces.
The conference was organized jointly with the Military Chaplaincy Service of Ukraine and international partners involved in developing the institution of military clergy in NATO partner countries.

This was reported by the official account of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine.

During the conference, participants discussed issues of spiritual support for military personnel, the role of religious communities in forming the moral resilience of the army, international interaction of chaplaincy services, and strengthening partnerships between states.

What this conference is and why it is important

The 1st International Jewish Military Chaplains Conference is the world’s first specialized meeting dedicated specifically to Jewish military chaplaincy.
The forum brought together:

• military rabbis and chaplains from NATO countries;

• representatives of religious structures working with military personnel;

• experts in moral and psychological support for the army.

Berlin was chosen as the venue for a reason. In recent years, Germany has been actively developing its own system of Jewish military chaplaincy:

• the Jüdische Militärseelsorge (Jewish Military Chaplaincy) service was created,

• an institute of military rabbis was established,

• the Bundeswehr promotes interfaith programs to support personnel.

Against this backdrop, the emergence of the first international conference is natural and logical.

What is known from open sources

Despite the international nature of the event, it did not receive wide media coverage — as is usually the case with military chaplain conferences. However, several independent sources confirm the key facts.

1. Official publications of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine

The Federation published reports that Yakov Sinyakov represented Ukraine at the IJMCC in Berlin.
The publications specify the dates, format of the events, and main discussion topics.

2. German source (LinkedIn, Bundeswehr officer)

Officer of the Bundeswehr Operational Command Armin Schaus reported that he represented the German side at the IJMCC and gave a presentation.
He confirmed:

• the participation of delegates from different countries;

• discussion of the topic
  “Military Rabbis in Crisis Time: International Jewish Chaplaincy Service in Discourse”;

• participation of experts representing the NATO perspective, such as Dr. J. Madoxx Woodbery.

This is the most significant independent confirmation of the conference taking place.

3. Context of the development of Jewish military chaplaincy in Germany

German media in previous years wrote about the creation of the institute of military rabbis, the appointment of Chief Military Rabbi Zsolt Balla, and the expansion of the Jewish spiritual service in the Bundeswehr.
These publications explain why Germany became the venue for the international forum.

The significance of Ukraine’s participation

For Ukraine, this event has important strategic significance:

• the country is integrating into NATO standards in the field of spiritual and moral-psychological support for the military;

• the presence of an official Jewish chaplain emphasizes the multinational character of the Ukrainian army;

• the conference became a platform for exchanging experiences and strengthening international ties.

The participation of Yakov Sinyakov is a step towards strengthening the prestige of Ukrainian military chaplaincy and confirming its integration into the international professional community.

It is in this context that the event is presented and covered by the editorial team of “NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency”, which traditionally pays attention to Ukrainian-Israeli relations, religious initiatives, and security topics.