Board of Delegates of American Israelites

The Board of Delegates of American Israelites took upon itself the task of lobbying to get the wording changed to allow for Jewish chaplains to serve.

Though the issue was originally raised to the US Government by Cesar J. Kaskel, a Kentucky merchant, the Board of Delegates of American Israelites added its voice to the matter, sending the following telegraph to President Lincoln on 8 January 1863.

In a case involving the commander of Fort Monroe, Virginia, Major General Benjamin Butler reported having captured "one hundred Confederates, sixty Contrabands [fugitive slaves], and five Jews."

Lincoln not only ordered their release but also demanded from Butler "a prompt and amiable apology" to be rendered to the Jewish men.

His critics saw his cooperation with the organization as deleterious to the status quo, given that former slaves were also seeking chaplaincy posts in the Union Army.