THE GULF WAR : Bless Our Patriot Crew

Israel’s two chief rabbis blessed U.S. troops who came to Israel to operate U.S. Patriot antimissile batteries, and the American commander joined the rabbis in an orange-juice toast “to life.” It was the FIRST CEREMONY OF ITS KIND for the soldiers, whose presence and work helped to ease fears in the Jewish state, which has come under consistent bombardment during the war from Iraqi Scud missiles. The latest Scud attack came just hours before the ceremony at the chief rabbis’ headquarters. Two Scuds fell harmlessly in the desert, and the army refused to say whether Patriots were launched in retaliation.