Research and text contributed by Brennan, Sam, Malik, Hunter, Jon, Jackson, Chandler, Kaitlyn and Ronnie
Harold Gordon with 'Flying Torah,' Bangor, 1945
Chaplain Gordon performing a service for Jewish military personnel as he did many times with the Torah given to him by Beth Israel Synagogue. Bangor Public Library
Captain Gordon poses with the 'Flying Torah,' Bangor, 1945
Chaplain Gordon Boarding the plain with the TorahBangor Public Library
A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota Chaplain Harold H. Gordon graduated from the University of Minnesota before he became a pilot. Having flown more than 50,000 miles during his career as a pilot, as well as being a flying circuit chaplain, he also somehow found the time to become a Rabbi. He was ordained a Rabbi in 1934 after attending the Hebrew Theological College in Chicago and the Theological Seminary in New York. Aside from one flight before him, he was soon to become the pilot of the "Flying Torah" as he traveled the world teaching the word of scripture. Gordon believed that there was a deep spiritual capacity within the men and women and that anyone should have an opportunity for a spiritual life. He received the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures) from Isaac Bloch, of the Beth Israel Synagogue in Bangor, on November 10th, 1944. Gordon eventually flew 21,000 miles with the Torah.
Flying TorahMore photos of Captain Gordon
