This week, I had the honor of attending the annual International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC) ATS Training Seminar in Little Rock, Arkansas, a professional event filled with enrichment, training, and renewal for those of us serving on the front lines of spiritual care in law enforcement.
But for me, this year’s conference was far more than just a training. It became a powerful reunion, a moment where past missions came full circle and new sparks of meaning were ignited.
One of the most moving moments of the week was reconnecting in person with Chief Chaplain of the Israel National Police, Rabbi Rami Brachyahu, and Superintendent Mickey Rosenfeld, Jerusalem District Spokesperson. These are not just colleagues — they are heroes, mentors, and partners in a sacred bond that transcends borders.
Our paths first crossed during the February 2024 Solidarity Mission to Israel — a journey I took with a delegation of U.S. law enforcement chaplains just months after the October 7th attacks. That mission was intense, emotional, and profoundly transformative. It left a lasting impact on all who participated, and it eventually became the inspiration for my book, A Chaplain’s Memoir: Stories from Israel’s Fight for Light.
To sit around the table again with these same brothers and sisters in service, some of whom stood with me in Sderot, Chevron, and the Nova site, was more than nostalgic. It was healing. Together, we reminisced about the powerful encounters and the raw truths we witnessed. We spoke of how the trip changed us, how it transformed our approach to chaplaincy, and how each of us has since carried those experiences back into our departments and communities across the U.S.
As if the reunion weren’t meaningful enough, G-d had one more surprise waiting for us.
Among the international attendees at the ICPC conference was a police officer from Moldova, a strong and proud individual who, in casual conversation, mentioned that he was Jewish but had never had the opportunity to put on Tefillin.
In a moment that only Divine Providence could orchestrate, a group of us gathered with him. With the help of Rabbi Yossi Kramer, a local Little Rock Police chaplain and a deeply committed soul, we wrapped the officer in Tefillin, right there at the conference. We recited the Shema together. We celebrated a bar mitzvah, decades past his 13th birthday, but perfectly timed in the moment - it's never too late.
There were no grand speeches or formal rituals. Just a circle of police chaplains and officers, standing together, helping one soul connect to a sacred link in his Jewish identity. It was raw, beautiful, and sacred.
This is what chaplaincy is all about. It's not only about being there in the aftermath of a crisis. It's about showing up in the quiet moments, at roundtables and cafeterias, in conference halls and hotel lobbies, and being a bridge to purpose, connection, and meaning.
The reunion with our Israeli colleagues reminded us that the story of Israel is not just about politics or conflict; it is also about the people. It’s about resilience. It’s about light.
And the bar mitzvah in Little Rock reminded us that no matter where you are, no matter your past, it’s never too late to reconnect with your soul.
Many of these stories from our February mission to moments like these are documented in A Chaplain’s Memoir: Stories from Israel’s Fight for Light, available now on Amazon. The book is more than a personal account; it’s a tribute to the spirit of the Israel National Police, the resilience of the Jewish people, and the chaplains who walk alongside them.
🕊️ All proceeds from the book support SoulLinks, our nonprofit initiative providing spiritual care and support to law enforcement, military personnel, and their families.