Albert Zager, president of the board of directors of the Center for Holocaust Studies at Brookdale Community College, was among 400 Holocaust survivors and guests aboard the USS Harry S. Truman on June 24 in Norfolk, Va., for the dedication of Holocaust Torah scrolls.

Presented by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater (Virginia), the scrolls will stay aboard the ship until it is retired in 41 years. They will be housed in an ark furnished by a chapel at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis; the ark is currently en route to the ship, Zager said.

Zager, who has been president of the center's board for 15 years, attended the 90-minute ceremony with his wife, Robin, and the couple's son, Major Josh Zager, USMC.

The Zagers learned about the Tidewater federation's gesture from Josh, a Marine fighter pilot and instructor who is based in Texas. He was part of a training session on the USS Truman last month and learned about the upcoming dedication; after he was introduced to the ship's commanding officer, Capt. Herman Shelanski, the younger Zager received invitations for himself and his family.

"When the scrolls were dedicated to the USS Truman, it was a significant moment in history," Albert Zager said. "When the United States Navy welcomes and accepts a Torah for use by its Jewish crew members, it's a tremendous acknowledgement of their value to the life of the ship."

The aircraft carrier serves as a base for a small Jewish community of its own. In addition to Shelanski, about 100 of the 3,500 crew members are Jewish, Zager said. A new chaplain, who is Jewish, has been assigned to the ship and will arrive in a few months, he said.

But "the entire crew will be able to relate to this Torah," Zager said. "It will be woven into the overall fabric of the ship and will represent religious freedom, which is something that is cherished by our military men and women. It will be treated with respect by everyone on board the carrier."

The scrolls originated in Lithuania and were undamaged during the Holocaust. They eventually were given to the federation and are on loan to the aircraft carrier.

The Tidewater federation chose the USS Truman as the recipient of the scrolls in acknowledgement of President Truman's recognition of Israel 11 minutes after statehood was announced May 14, 1948.

A signed memo Truman issued that confirmed his pro-Israel stance is on display in the ship's reception area.

For the Zager family (the couple's other son, Sam, a graduate of the Naval Academy, is now a civilian living in Boston and was unable to attend the event), the dedication of the scrolls evoked pride in their Jewish heritage, which has been a mainstay of the family's life, Albert Zager said.

"The dedication was a great day for Jews all over America," said Zager, a Fair Haven resident who was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy's Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1974 to 1977 and is now a practicing attorney in Red Bank. "It was a symbol of respect and honor for the Jewish people and represents a precious legacy."

While Zager was on board the ship, he presented its public affairs officer with literature that detailed the programs and services of Brookdale's Holocaust center. He also offered to provide the carrier with a collection of Holocaust-themed books; the collection is currently being assembled by center staff.

"The fight for religious freedom that our parents and grandparents fought for was validated by this ceremony and the eager exchange of information between me and the ship's officers and crew," Zager said. "It was a proud moment."