What is a Chaplain?

Clergy (Rabbis and Cantors, Priests, Pastors and Ministers) are ordained, in a particular faith community and usually they work in and promote that particular faith tradition. (In our own community we know of exceptions: rabbis who bring their skills to work in social service agencies or academia.) Many ordained clergy are also chaplains.

Chaplains are “certified,” not ordained, and usually they work in secular institutions: hospitals and hospices, the military, police and fire departments, in businesses, youth organizations like scouting, and on campuses. While required to be knowledgeable about a faith tradition, they serve people of all faiths and no faith. Chaplains seek to be a “listening presence,” when someone is ill or recovering, grieving, stressed, or simply wanting some extra support.

“I didn’t know there were Jewish chaplains…”

Our own Rabbi Emeritus, Gil Kollin was a chaplain in the US military. There are Jewish chaplains at many LA hospitals. Local retirement communities, nursing homes and long-term care facilities in our area know that they can call PJTC if a resident or patient wants to meet with a Jewish representative, and often I will be the one to respond. Increasingly, rabbinical schools are requiring some chaplaincy training for all their students.

Questions, concerns, comments? Contact me at claire@pjtc.net.