I want to acknowledge Chaplains Yaakov Wenger and Israel Bursztyn and the New Jersey Chaplains Association for pulling off one of the finest community events I have seen across the four counties I represent. Events such as this do not just happen. It requires vision, planning and work. It takes leadership. Chaplains Wenger and Bursztyn have all of these qualities, and it is a blessing to us all that they share their gifts with others.
Christopher H. Smith
US Representative (R-NJ)
I write this letter in support of the New Jersey Chaplains Association and wish to congratulate you on the completion of your groundbreaking project, “The Professional’s Guide to Understanding Judaism.” This work will allow public safety personnel to enhance their understanding of the Jewish community, traditions, and customs. It is important to advance awareness of various faiths and traditions and allow for law enforcement and other professionals to respect a wide array of cultures in the workplace and I am confident that this project will benefit everyone who reads it. I commend the New Jersey Chaplains Association for taking a lead role in promoting the education and greater appreciation for the many diverse cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities our state offers. Once more, please accept my deepest appreciation for the efforts of the New Jersey Chaplains Association under the leadership of Chaplain Bursztyn and Wenger and thank you for undertaking this endeavor.
Steven M. Fulop
Jersey City, NJ Mayor
The New Jersey Chaplains Association is committed to supporting religious accommodations and tolerance for diverse religious and ethnic communities.
Virginia E. Haines
Ocean County Freeholder
The NJCA helps maintain open lines of communication with all of the unique faiths that are melded within our township. They are able and willing to assist with all branches of emergency service network which reduces the necessity of tying up valuable resources.
Chief Gregory H.
Meyer, Lakewood Police Department
The NJCA is a valuable resource for our state’s detention centers and provide a variety of services within the law enforcement community. The chaplains provide pastoral and emotional support for both employees and inmates while responding to the unique needs and challenges with religious guidance, reassuring trustworthy presence, and counseling services. Its founding fathers, Chaplain Yaakov Wenger and Chaplain Yisroel Bursztyn, have established and maintained strong partnerships with various agencies in their efforts to meet the spiritual and religious needs of the community.
Gary Schaer
Assemblyman, NJ District 30
The contributions of the NJCA go far beyond the Jewish community. They are an organization that deals with persons of all faiths and their contributions to this mission are well documented. They are active in providing for the needs of a diversity of persons, including members of the community, law enforcement officers and even jail inmates.
Theodore J. Hutler Jr.
Retired Warden, Ocean County Department of Corrections
I commend the New Jersey Chaplains Association for its continued efforts to promote greater understanding of the diverse cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities that make this state wonderful.
Frank Pallone Jr.
US Representative (R-NJ)
NJCA has made great strides in easing the burden on prisons and other facilities by helping the prison personnel to best serve their inmates. This provides great benefit both to the wardens and their staff as well as the public. I applaud Chaplain Yaakov Wenger and Chaplain Yisroel Bursztyn for their excellent work in developing partnerships with so many facilities. I have found their input and assistance to be a very valuable resource, and I encourage all of you to make use of their services as well.
Senator Robert W. Singer
New Jersey District 30
I applaud the NJ Chaplains Association for preparing a reference manual that will help other healthcare providers and first responders provide the best care possible, in a way that respects and supports the cultural and spiritual needs of our community members.
An important initiative of the NCA is to create a safe, cooperative forum for leaders of different faiths and ethnicities to meet and get to know and understand one another. This movement aims to foster good relations among the richly varied people among whom we live. It also allows for chaplains to broaden their horizons so they may be of service to people of many backgrounds and affiliations.
Emergency Response Team
Emergency Response Team
NCA chaplains liaise with a vast network of government, law, and health officials. We have cultivated a strong cooperative and personal relationships with these public servants and this places us in a strong position when advocacy is required in cases of crisis. In these interactions, we strive to improve communication, minimize misunderstandings, and foster a mutually respectful and cooperative relationship between the communities and those who serve them.
Culitvating Contacts
Culitvating Contacts
We maintain a large network of contacts by hosting events for public service professionals and community leaders and cultivating lasting relationships. This endeavor has proven to be of significant value to the community, constantly allowing individuals in need to connect with those in a position to assist them.
Cultural Diversity Trainings
Cultural Diversity Trainings
Positive working relationships are rooted in mutual respect and understanding. NCA’s cultural sensitivity awareness programs educate professionals about nuances that can potentially create barriers in their line of work. Our highly skilled and engaging presenters conduct interactive seminars that broaden their participants’ perspective and provide them with practical tools.
Crisis Intervention
Crisis Intervention
Our 24/7 hotline is a lifeline for those in need of immediate faith-based support and assistance, as well as those in crisis. We are inundated with tragic cases of loss, illness, or incarceration, and our professional and compassionate chaplains are promptly dispatched to the scene. With a vast network of contacts and connections, NCA members make helpful referrals and effectively alleviate suffering or mitigate their crisis.
Education and Outreach
Education and Outreach
Awareness and understanding of government laws and policies is the best way to prevent issues before they arise. NCA’s educational seminars educate the community and foster a clear understanding of every area of the law.