Teitelbaum said the shortage of Jewish chaplains is a logistical problem, not a lack of candidates — “It’s due to the nature of the positions, all of which are part time.”
One position alone, he explained, “wouldn’t be enough in terms of salary to make a living on. What we’ve done in some cases is to combine some of the positions,” enabling one rabbi to cover several prisons in a geographic area and command a full-time salary.
California facilities that have visiting rabbis include:
*Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy.
*Northern California Women’s Facility in Stockton.
*Sierra Conservation Center in Jamestown.
*California State Prison in San Quentin.
*Mule Creek State Prison in Ione.
*California State Prison in Folsom.
*California State Prison in Sacramento.
*Salinas Valley State Prison and Correctional Training Facility.
The Board of Rabbis is currently looking for chaplains to service the California State Prison in Vacaville, the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad near Salinas, Corcoran near Coalinga and Chowchilla near Fresno.
All the positions are part time, Teitelbaum said.