A rabbi has shared his account of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, which killed 241 American service members. Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff was in Beirut at the time of the bombing, having arrived two days earlier to perform a memorial service for a Jewish Marine.
What happened
On the morning of October 23, 1983, Resnicoff was awoken by a violent explosion that shook his building. He and others took cover, believing their building had been hit by a rocket or mortar. When the noise stopped, they heard screams coming from a nearby building where many Marines were stationed.
Resnicoff, along with Catholic chaplain George Pucciarelli, rushed to the scene to aid the wounded and comfort the survivors. They worked together, despite their different faiths, to provide support and care to those affected. Resnicoff used his Jewish tradition to minister to the Marines, standing with them in silence and only speaking if they initiated conversation.
The bombing resulted in the deaths of 241 American service members, including 220 Marines, 18 Navy sailors, and three Army soldiers. Resnicoff and Pucciarelli were among the first responders, and their actions that day have become a testament to the power of interfaith cooperation and compassion.
