NYPD Chief Chaplain Rabbi Alvin Kass Passes Away at 88
New York, NY — The New York City Police Department is mourning the loss of Rabbi Alvin Kass, its Chief Chaplain and one of the longest-serving members in the Department’s history.
Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced his passing Wednesday, calling him “the spiritual heart of the NYPD.”
Rabbi Kass joined the NYPD in 1966, at the age of 30, becoming the youngest chaplain in the Department’s history. Over nearly six decades of service, he became a cornerstone of faith, guidance, and compassion for generations of police officers and their families.
A U.S. Air Force veteran and Columbia University graduate, Rabbi Kass dedicated his life to service — comforting the grieving, counseling the troubled, and uplifting those in need. He was among the first to respond following the September 11th attacks, consoling the families of the 23 NYPD officers who perished that day.
At every Police Academy graduation, Rabbi Kass offered a now-famous benediction — a prayer that New York remain:
“A place where people of every race, religion, color, and creed can pursue their individual destinies untrammeled, unafraid, and in obedience to Thy will.”
Commissioner Tisch called Rabbi Kass’s passing “an immeasurable loss,” noting that his “example is everlasting.”
As the NYPD and the New York City community mourn his death, Rabbi Kass’s legacy of faith, service, and unity will continue to inspire future generations.
May his memory be a blessing.
News You Should See
FlightAware Challenges Kalshi Over Flight Cancellation Prediction Markets
Kyoto Fusioneering Moves Deeper Into the Fusion Supply Chain With New Fuel-Breeding Technology
Bumble Rewrites Its Signature Dating Model as It Lets Men Make the First Move
North Korean IT Worker Reached a U.S. Government Agency, Exposing a Critical Remote Hiring Risk
Spotify Draws a Line Around AI Artists as It Rewrites the Rules of Music Discovery
Amazon Signals a Post-Smartphone Strategy as AI Redefines Consumer Devices
Latest News
FlightAware is suing Kalshi over prediction-market contracts based on airline flight cancellations, raising questions about aviation data rights and the growing commercial reach of prediction markets.
Kyoto Fusioneering is developing Unity-3 with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to test breeding-blanket systems critical to future commercial fusion power plants.
Bumble is ending its women-first messaging rule, allowing either person in a match to start the conversation as the company seeks stronger engagement and adapts to changing dating habits.
The FBI says a North Korean IT worker obtained remote employment with a U.S. government agency, highlighting growing cybersecurity risks from fraudulent remote hiring schemes.
Spotify will introduce AI Persona labels for AI-generated artist identities and exclude them from editorial and algorithmic recommendations by default starting in September 2026.
Amazon Devices chief Panos Panay will discuss the future of hardware and AI at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 as the company develops its next generation of consumer technology.
Anthropic is introducing invisible watermarks for AI-generated text and files across Claude products, strengthening transparency, regulatory compliance and content provenance.
Dr. Hossam Amin is recognized for more than 35 years of medical leadership, academic service, and support for Arab communities in the United States.
Dr. Mahmoud Galal is an Egyptian engineer and inventor whose innovations span disaster-resistant buildings, sustainable agricultural pest control, and environmentally friendly uses of prickly pear cactus.