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.

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.

The New Jersey Chaplains Association is committed to supporting religious accommodations and tolerance for diverse religious and ethnic communities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.