Chaplains and Shluchim Team Up to Help Communities

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the USA this winter, over 50 shluchim who wanted to better serve their communities rapidly went through the process of training and becoming certified as state chaplains.

The United States Chaplain Task Force (USCTF) has helped provide Chabad rabbis around America with vital community and social services by assisting them in forging direct rapport with local and state agencies. 

Since Covid-19 hit the United States in February of this year, Chabad emissaries (shluchim) who wanted to better serve their communities rapidly went through the process of training and becoming certified as state chaplains.

The leadership at the United States Chaplain Task Force is actively calling on VA hospitals, police departments, fire departments, and local and state agencies to collaborate hand-in-hand with local Chabad Rabbis to mobilize the aid that is urgently required by communities in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic. 

“We have received many requests from the Chabad chaplains to help forge bridges between local agencies such as hospitals, police departments, and local businesses who can benefit from a chaplaincy program provided by local Chabad chaplains. The response has been extraordinary,” says Chaplain Mendy Coën, member of the board of officers of the USCTF.

Over 55 Chabad Rabbis nationally have undergone the required training and are now certified as chaplains by the USCTF. 

Chaplain Marcos Miranda, the executive officer of the Task Force and the Chaplain of Homeland Security is quite familiar with the Chabad mission. 

“I have known the Lubavitcher Rebbe personally, and I carry the two dollars he gave me with his blessing. I support the Chabad mission and work. I have pledged to bring all our resources and assistance to further the work and mission of Chabad in every city of America.

The USCTF provides crisis chaplain certification training, spiritual care services, disaster relief training and emergency medical training, and has certified over 4000 Chaplains.

“The chaplaincy program and certification are available to all who want to make a difference in the lives of others, and [seek] to make this world a better place,” said Miranda.

For further chaplain certification training information click HERE.