Rabbi Alvin Kass

Rabbi Alvin Kass (born 1938) is the Chief Chaplain of the New York City Police Department, educator, and Rabbi. He has served under seven New York City mayors and 16 police commissioners. [1]

Early life and education

Kass was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He did a tour of duty in the United States Air Force. He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, earned a Ph.D. from NYU and a master’s from Columbia University.[2]

Career

Kass served two years as an Air Force chaplain and then 14 years as a rabbi of the Astoria Center of Israel synagogue. He then served as the rabbi of East Midwood Jewish Center in Brooklyn for 36 years. [3] Kass joined the NYPD in 1966 as the third Jewish chaplain.[4] He was made chief chaplain in 2002.[5] Kass is the only Chaplain to receive three-star recognition,[6] the longest serving chaplain in NYPD history, and the only to achieve the rank of assistant chief.[7] As chaplain, Kass is responsible for an interfaith team of nine chaplains.

He was the president of the New York Board of Rabbis for one year.[7] He teaches classes at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, [8] and ethics at the Police Academy.

Kass was honored by the Shomrim Society, the NYC organization for Jewish police officers, as Man of the Year.[3]

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, Kass spoke at the interfaith memorial in Yankee Stadium,[9] leading the prayer for the families.[10]

Personal

Kass was married to Miryom, who passed in 2017.[11]The couple have three children.

In September 2020, Kass was injured during a mugging in Manhattan’s Upper West Side.[12][13]

References
  1. "For Jewish Chaplain, 54 Years And Counting on Police Force". The Tablet. 2020-01-08. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  2. Alarcon, Krystina (2019-09-27). "NYPD's longest serving officer, Rabbi Alvin Kass, protects those who serve to protect all". Fox News. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  3. "Rabbi Dr Alvin Kass Honored". brooklynjewish.org. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  4. "NYPD's Chief Rabbi, Alvin Kass, Honored for 50 Years of Service". Tablet Magazine. 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  5. Boss-Bicak, Shira (June 1, 2006). "Alvin Kass '57 Tends to Spiritual Needs of NYC's Finest". Columbia College.
  6. Garger, Kenneth (2016-12-16). "Famed rabbi is NYPD's first three-star chief". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  7. Jr, Ralph Gardner (2012-04-05). "The Rabbi Is a Cop". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  8. "the force is with rabbi kass". www.westsidespirit.com. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  9. "PRAYER FOR AMERICA, A {YANKEE STADIUM TRIBUTE} {TERRORIST ATTACKS} (TV)". www.paleycenter.org. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  10. "CNN.com - 'Prayer for America' embraces many faiths - September 23, 2001". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  11. "MIRYOM KASS - Obituary". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  12. News, Eyewitness (2020-09-01). "NYPD's Chief Chaplain Rabbi Alvin Kass mugged on Upper West Side". ABC7 New York. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  13. "NYPD Chief Chaplain Rabbi Alvin Kass mugged during morning walk on UWS". 1010 WINS. 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
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