[VIDEO & PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
The New York Police Department is marking an anniversary. It’s been 100 years since the appointment of its first Jewish chaplain.
In 1911, the department hired Rabbi Abraham Blum to serve the spiritual needs of officers. He served alongside two Catholics and two Protestants.
Since then, the largest police force in the nation has become increasingly diverse. Now, the chaplains’ unit includes Muslims, Christians and Jews. The police department includes officers from 90 countries who speak 60 languages.
The department on Wednesday also honored its current head chaplain, Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass. He’s been with the department since 1966. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and others praised Kass’ intellect, courage and passion to help see police officers through challenging times.
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(Source: Newsday)
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According to the website of Dr. Kass’s conservative shul, “besides counseling and offering spiritual guidance to officers of all ranks for 36 years, (Dr. Kass) talked a suicidal man off of a ledge at the World Trade Center in 1977 and in 1981 convinced an armed gunman to release several female hostages from a midtown office building.”