HUC-JIR PROFESSOR RECEIVES AWARD FROM BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES

The Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), recently awarded Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion’s Los Angeles campus Professor of Rabbinic’s Rabbi Stephen Passamaneck with the Director’s Honor Award in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding contribution and invaluable assistance to the ATF’s mission.

Rabbi Passamaneck, who is Chaplain of the Los Angeles Field Division of the ATF was presented with the award by Bureau director Bradley Buckles at its seventh annual awards ceremony, held in Washington DC in June. He was given his award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the ATF, in particular the peer group support and grief counseling he provided to members of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department following the sad death of LA County Sheriff Deputy Jake Kuredijan, who was killed in the line of duty.

Rabbi Passamaneck is a civilian Volunteer Chaplain with the Bureau and was the only chaplain with the ATF to receive an award at this event. The 48 other awardees who were recognized for their outstanding (and often heroic) work at the awards ceremony are either present or past employees of the Bureau or sworn police officers from local jurisdictions. Attorney General John Ashcroft delivered the principal address at the ceremony.