Text Size

Email Post

Print Post

Comments (42)

Save Article

Brooklyn, NY - A popular New York daily newspaper has written a number of articles about the work of a New York City chaplain for the Department of Corrections (DOC). The newspaper misunderstood and misrepresented the efforts of the observant rabbi in providing for the religious needs of inmates, such as describing leftover or rejected institutional kosher meals as gourmet, when in reality they do not meet the standards of detested airline food. Though it makes for amusing reading, the newspaper mischaracterized some of the chaplain's sincere efforts. The invitation for a popular Jewish singer to perform in the DOC facility is no different than the welcoming of thousands of other singers and musicians to entertain inmates throughout the year in prison systems across the United States, except that this volunteer performer is an observant Jew and sings Jewish songs.

Several leading observant organizations have joined in an effort to encourage the chaplain to continue his good work. They will be releasing a joint statement of support. In order to present the other side of the story, we present the following.

Biography Of Rabbi Leib Glanz

Rabbi Leib Glanz was born in 1958 in Brooklyn. He was raised in the Williamsburg community, where he still resides with his wife. His four married children and their families all reside nearby.

Active in community work since he was a teenager, Rabbi Glanz has been honored and hailed by countless organizations for his devotion to civic justice and community values. While still a high school student, Leib Glanz, in conjunction with the world famous Satmar Bikur Cholim, coordinated hospital visits to the ill and elderly, to feed them and cheer their spirits. In addition, he also coordinated home visits to the needy and homebound, bringing them food packages.

A graduate of the United Talmudical Academy of Satmar (UTA), Rabbi Glanz has spent more than 30 years in a career as an educator and administrator. In 1985 he joined the administration of UTA, the largest private religious school system in the country with an enrollment of more than 18,000 students, directing the educational institution during its great expansion. In this position, he expanded the system with advanced programs, which were innovative in teaching students with special needs. Under his direction, UTA acquired several additional academic facilities, introduced a state-of-the-art computer based management system, and developed an ambitious new graduate program.

In addition to galvanizing the UTA school system, directing the entire management team and supervising all administrative matters, Rabbi Glanz devoted a vast amount of his time and efforts to community service. From 1978-1996, he coordinated and directed Hatzoloh of Brooklyn North, the local emergency volunteer corps. Since 1987, Rabbi Glanz co-directed Hatzoloh's annual fundraising events and the Satmar community's vast array of charity efforts for thousands of needy families. He also chairs the community drive to help children with special needs. From 1995-2004, he served as community coordinator for United Jewish Organization of Williamsburg, the umbrella organization of more than 100 social, health, and welfare organizations.

Rabbi Glanz spearheaded the reorganization of Shomrim, the Williamsburg Safety Patrol, in coordination with the NYPD and other city agencies, successfully establishing productive and warm relations with a host of community groups reflecting the diverse needs and backgrounds of the Williamsburg community. He continues his involvement with Chaverim and Satmar Bikur Cholim volunteer organizations.

Rabbi Glanz was presented with a medal of honor by Mayor Rudy Giuliani for assisting and counseling the families and friends of passengers of TWA flight 800, immediately after the tragic accident, for more than 72 hours, uninterrupted. Rabbi Glanz is also recognized for coordinating volunteers for food distribution to the hundreds of police, firefighters and other officers immediately following the 9/11 disaster. The rabbi continued to assist families and staff at Ground Zero for several weeks thereafter. In February 2007, he was appointed as Senior Advisor to Congressman Ed Towns.

Rabbi Glanz's vocation has engaged him in spiritual guidance to individuals of all backgrounds and faiths. This work with society's most vulnerable led him to a career turn. Confident that he can make a difference, he handed over the responsibilities for school administration to his successor and entered the chaplaincy of the New York City Department of Corrections (DOC). In this capacity, he provides spiritual counseling and comfort to both the incarcerated, their families, as well as to the employees of the DOC.

In 2003, he was promoted to administrative chaplain to oversee and coordinate the work of chaplains of other faiths in religious planning and programming for the DOC. In addition to providing policy input and sensitivity training to the DOC and NYPD Brooklyn North.

The DOC has conferred several awards on Rabbi Glanz. In 2002, he received the Commissioner's Five Star Award, and on several occasions he was presented with the Employee of the Month or Man of the Year Award. In June of 2005, he was presented with the Humanitarian Award from the Maccabee Society as well as the New York State Assembly Citation and Humanitarian Award.

A lifelong resident of the City of New York, Rabbi Glanz is grateful for the opportunity to serve this great city and state he so deeply loves, and to work with the public safety professionals he so admires.