Prison Chaplain

Rank: Lieutenant/Captain
Function: Initiating, developing and implementing religious activities in prison; supervising religious dietary observance (kashrut).
Responsibilities
1. Supervising observance of religious dietary laws in kitchens, dining halls, canteen; ongoing instruction of kitchen staff.
2. Giving classes in Judaism; organizing seminars for inmates through visiting lecturers.
3. Conducting personal discussions with individuals and groups and, if necessary with their families.
4. Running synagogues, distribution of religious paraphernalia.
5. Responsibility for prayer groups in synagogue and personal participation in some.
6. Running the religious study program (medrasha) including weekly consultation with its educator; overseeing the religious library in prison.
7. Supervising compliance with directives covering religious observance of Sabbath and Jewish holidays.
8. Assistance to inmates in all areas of religious observance including purchasing religious articles through their prison canteen accounts.
9. Organizing preholiday events and preparatory actions enabling religious observance during holidays.
10. Initiating religious rehabilitation using volunteer manpower.
11. Cooperation with educational staff and social workers.
12. Assistance to non-Jewish prisoners in observance of their religion and helping them make contact with chaplains of their faith.
Subordinate to: Warden; regional rabbi (professional issues).
Prerequisite education: Religious education at least four years parochial high school (yeshiva); rabbinical ordination certified through head rabbi of Israel.
Prerequisite work experience: Minimum two years organizing Jewish outreach/educational activities.
Prison Service courses: Managerial officers’ course.

Head Religious Officer

Rank: Colonel
Function: Professional responsibility for religious activities for the benefit of staff and inmates; activities in the area of observing religious dietary laws (kashrut), Sabbath and Jewish holidays. Responsibilities
1. Initiating activities promoting religious activities amongst staff and inmates.
2. Issuing professional directives; organizing seminars for regional rabbis and prison rabbis.
3. Publicizing, through prison channels, professional directives in the area of religion.
4. Developing religious rehabilitation programs in prisons through religious steering committees and interaction with external and internal bodies.
5. Preparing annual budget and projected yearly plan of action and supervising proper budgetary usage.
6. Organizing, in cooperation with manpower, religious seminars for staff.
7. Distribution of religious articles in accordance with budget.
8. Supervision of religious dietary laws (kashrut), Sabbath observance, organizing seminars for kitchen staff.
9. To act as intermediary with Department of Religion and non-Jewish religious organizations enabling religious observance amongst non-Jewish prisoners.
10. Acting as chairman of educational steering committee responsible for religious wards.
11. Acting as liaison with various external voluntary organizations in order to further develop educational frameworks within the prisons.
Subordinate to: Head of Treatment and Rehabilitation
Prerequisite education: Five years of parochial high school (yeshiva); rabbinical ordination.
Previous work experience: Minimum five years organization in an education framework; prison chaplain or regional chaplain.
Prison Service courses: Advanced officers’ course.

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Religious Wards

Interspersed throughout the Israeli Prison Service are three unique “Religious Wards;” average 50-90 inmates. Their purpose is to afford opportunity, for those so desiring, to pass their incarceration in an environment conducive to a religious life-style. Entrance to these is considered a privilege.

One ward is occupied by detainees during sentencing; another, those with long sentences; finally, those prior to release. Their common denominator- a drug-free atmosphere, removed from the standard prison-ward distractions; an environment “ripe” for wholesome introspection, personal growth and strengthening love and respect for fellow man.

Daily Schedule
The day begins with morning prayers (shachrit) at 7:30, followed by study, including: the weekly Torah (bible) portion, Jewish law, holidays and ethics. The lunch break is followed by Talmudic study, afternoon and evening prayers and the periodic visiting of rabbis and lecturers.

Unlike other wads, televisions are forbidden, so too is profanity and disrespectful or inconsiderate interpersonal relations. These wards and their inhabitants are expected to be examples for others in their behavior.

The Work of a Prison Chaplain

The work of a prison chaplain is exciting and rewarding. I, the author of these lines, am one.

In any environment, the job of a rabbi is, commonly thought, to be one of educator and council. In prison it is more. Here he must be confidant, older brother and friend.

Why so? At its basic level, those in our “congregation” are under tremendous emotional stress. They are removed from their families and natural surroundings. They bear unique psychological baggage. Here, perhaps more than anywhere else, encouragement is critical, understandably.

In my seven years working here, I have come to feel, on a very deep level, the meaning of “shlichut, “ mission. Much more significant than passing on knowledge, the most important thing is: a kind word, a smile, a listening ear.

“The Almighty hears the call of the befallen.” It is commonly felt amongst my colleagues, myself included, that we have received the merit to be able to support our fellow man, specifically, in this time of need. An outstretched hand and a good word at the right time can make the difference, giving the prisoner and his family the strength to successfully and profitably bypass this difficult period.

Mourning

Jewish law has much to say regarding mourning. The laws of mourning pertain to the passing away of one’s father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, and spouse. The periods of mourning are divided into three: the first week, the first month and the year. Each period has stipulations and requirements.

A prisoner or coworker finding him/herself in such a situation, naturally, is hurt, often confused.

They turn to the rabbi for guidance and comfort. We ensure that they have the wherewithal to perform all their religious duties. But, no less importantly, we make sure to sit with them, letting them unburden themselves regarding their dear loss.

This function is undoubtedly the most emotionally loaded for the prison chaplain. It is, conversely, the most satisfying. In the face of this experience all men are equal, inmates and/or staff; regardless of denomination/nationality. Having a caring, sensitive ear to share one’s grief lifts a terrible burden, exactly at its most crucial moment.

Religious Dietary Laws (Kashrut)

By national legislation, government institutions such as the army, educational institutions and, in our case, prisons, must observe the Jewish dietary laws, thus allowing them to be accessible to the public at large.

Towards ensuring a high level of observance, each prison kitchen and dining room uses religious inmates on a regular basis, to perform those chores necessary to keep the kitchen “kosher.” Examples: inspecting vegetables for insects; guarding against the intermingling of milk and meat utensils and preclusion from use of electricity and/or fire on Sabbath. Additionally, many kitchens utilize non-inmate manpower, on a daily basis, in the form of employees whose job is to add more supervision in this important area.

Holidays
The busiest times of the year for the Service’s rabbinate are the holiday periods. These include all holiday: “major,” i.e. Rosh Hoshana, Yom Kippur etc.; and “minor” i.e. fast days. Prisons include many wards and prisoners. Yet, in spite of this, it is the rabbinate’s goal to supply all the religious articles and manpower necessary in order to allow all prisoners, regardless of which ward or prison they find themselves, the opportunity for full religious participation.

Towards this end, prison chaplains have at their disposal funds to hire rabbinical students - cantors (chazans) during the holidays. These, arriving prior to sunset preceding the holiday, remain in prison throughout the holiday and conduct the services and classes.

The rabbinate cares for the religious needs of all prisoners, non-Jewish as well. This includes securing entrance passes for clergy of their denominations and dealing with their other personal and marital issues as it relates to the religious courts.

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