VFD Names Shliach as First Chaplain

Fox Chapel, PA — The Guyasuta Volunteer Fire Depart-ment has taken a new member into its ranks and hopes that his presence will aid victims during times of tragedy.

The fire department’s board recently named Rabbi Ely Rosenfeld, 29, of O’Hara, Chaplain of the fire and emergency response unit.

“I see (the fire department) as an incredible inspiration,” Rosenfeld, who is a director of the Fox Chapel Center for Jewish Life, said. “Everyone there is a professional during the day and they don’t have time for this — but they give the time. It reminds me that no matter what time it is, you have to be there.”

Rosenfeld, a friend of Dr. Steve Reis, a medical officer for the department, witnessed the overwhelming response to a small fire across the street from the Center for Jewish Life a few months ago.

After conversing about the department and its responsibilities, Rosenfeld became enthralled with the idea of volunteering at such a capacity.

The board voted Rosenfeld in as its first chaplain last month.

“(Rosenfeld) will bring some much needed emotional support to victims after critical incidents,” Fire Chief Mike Dortenzo said. “Depending on what calls we have, he will be on site to talk to victims.”

Rosenfeld sees the job as a dual-sided duty: First, to aid the community when fire or tragedy strikes and second, to provide emotional support to the firemen and emergency response workers after they have witnessed such tragedies firsthand.

“I hope to be someone on the scene that can work with the families until their pastor, rabbi or the Red Cross can take over,” Rosenfeld said. “A lot of these volunteers are young kids and seeing these tragedies is not easy. You and I can live in a utopia world, but when you see it every single day — accidents on Route 28 and that fire in O’Hara (in December) — it can be very depressing.”

While Rosenfeld, thankfully, hasn’t hit any extreme calls thus far, he has spent some time getting acquainted with the department’s crew.

He fits in somewhat — he also is busy with duties tending to the Center for Jewish Life and has a family of his own — wife, Shternie, and two children, Mendy, 1, and Chaya, 2. He connects with the fellow members on that level.

Rosenfeld slowly is getting to know each of them personally, but admits that “Some are suspicious …some feel like they can’t be themselves. It’s the language thing — you are careful about what you say in front of a rabbi, but over time we’ll be able to grow together.”

Already, Rosenfeld has encompassed the communal sense of responsibility and family that most firemen share. Reading about a fireman’s death recently evoked an emotion of brotherhood to his mind.

“For the first time it struck home,” Rosenfeld said. “I really feel like a part of a family.”

Rosenfeld, who previously was a chaplain of the Allegheny County prison for a year, hopes to distribute a non-denominational message about good will throughout the community while performing his duties.

“There’s a big barrier between volunteers and average people,” Rosenfeld said. “I hope I can be a person in the community that can answer questions and share more about what these volunteers do.”