Prison chaplains visit head of Prison Service

Last Tuesday, everyone marked International Woman’s Day. In various ways, women received tokens of appreciation and thanks for their contribution to human existence. There is no better way to mark the power and abilities of women than to meet with a woman who has advanced to a high position in the world of national security, a world usually dominated by men. Such a woman accepted the yoke of being the head of Prison Service in Israel.

Lieutenant Ofra Klinger, Rabbi Yekutiel Wiesner, chief rabbi of the Prison Service, and members of his staff and high ranking officer Asher Waknin and members of his staff, received the representatives of the different Churches, which administer the chaplaincies for the Christian prisoners in the Israeli prisons. The representatives of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Patriarchal Vicar Father David Neuhaus, and the coordinator for the chaplaincy Kirill, the representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, Father Aristobolos and representatives of organizations particular concerned with Christian Arab prisoners, Agnes Shehade from the House of Grace in Haifa and her team and Anis Barhoum from the House of Light in Shefa’amr and his team participated in the meeting.

The meeting was conducted in a pleasant and respectful atmosphere. The representatives presented their work and the uniqueness of their efforts, all of which contributes to the reforming activity of the prison as well as the collaboration with the Rabbinate of the Prison Service which is conducted with openness and a respect for the other that is worthy of praise. Progress in the relations between the Christian frameworks and the Prison Service is also a fruit of the openness of new head of the Prison Service and her desire to improve things. She has recently taken up this post and she has surprised many including the Rabbinate with her attitude that is uplifting for the prisoners rather than punitive. The head of the Prison Service presented each representative with a certificate of appreciation for the work of the Churches in the prisons.

After the meeting with the head of the Prison Service, another round of talks was held on more practical issues with Officer Asher Waknin. In this forum issues were raised that could improve even further the religious and spiritual service of the prisoners. All those present expressed the desire to continue to improve this service for the sake of those who have lost their way in the world.