Rabbi enlisted to assess faith of Westmoreland jail inmate

A Pittsburgh rabbi was brought in to assess claims that a county jail inmate’s religious convictions qualify him to receive kosher meals while incarcerated, the Westmoreland County commissioners said.

The lawyer for Kort Noel Eckman, who is awaiting trial in the attempted murder of his mother, said jail officials have denied a request for his client to receive a special diet because he has not completed a formal conversion to the Jewish faith. Kosher meals are produced or prepared according to Jewish dietary laws.

“We need to be respectful in how we approach it,” Commissioner Ted Kopas said. “Rabbis have visited him and tried to make an assessment of his religion. This is a complicated case. It’s not up to our judgment. We’re not qualified to do that kind of thing. That’s why we rely on a rabbi for that sort of thing. I am never going to question anyone’s faith or religious preference.”

Questions about Eckman’s religious beliefs have dogged jail officials over the past month. Initially, he was denied transit to the courthouse after he refused to remove a yarmulke — a brimless skullcap traditionally worn by Jewish males — from his head.

Then Eckman’s mother this week formally asked members of the county prison board to direct jail officials to provide kosher meals for her son.

Defense attorney Tim Andrews said Eckman observes Jewish faith and traditions but confirmed his client has not formally converted to Judaism.

“I do understand he had been preparing to be converted well before this incident (the alleged stabbing of his mother in 2023) took place. He has been unable to complete his conversion while in jail,” Andrews said.

Eckman, 49, of Mt. Pleasant is charged with attempted homicide and related offenses in connection with allegations that he stabbed his mother.

According to court records, she told police her son suffered from delusions and believed she was a Nazi war criminal when he jumped atop her in bed and stabbed her more than 20 times.

Officials acknowledge Eckman’s religious affiliation has been an issue during his stay in the county jail.

Commissioner Doug Chew, who serves as chairman of the county’s prison board, said Eckman’s religious affiliation was questioned based on his failure to make a declaration upon entering the facility.

As questions about Eckman’s faith arose, the county elicited help from a rabbi to assess whether Eckman is to be treated as a practicing Jew.

A unnamed rabbi was brought in from a Squirrel Hill temple. They received no payment for the assessment, Chew said.

“It is important to note in this case the defendant declared no religion (when he was booked). He’s been in Westmoreland County Prison twice,” Chew said. “The first time there was no request for religious meals and the second time there was no religion checked upon booking, and then that changed since.”

Lenny Sarko, the rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El Israel in Greensburg, said he understands the county’s dilemma with regard to Eckman’s religious affiliation. Conversion is a required step for non-Jews who seek to adhere to religious tenets of their chosen faith, he said.

Sarko said he has not been been consulted about Eckman’s situation nor has the county sought his assistance.

“Just asking for kosher meals is potentially a problem,” Sarko said. “A chaplain is responsible for all religious faiths in a jail, and he can go to him for help and support.”

Westmoreland County Warden Steve Pelesky earlier this week said the county does not have a formal policy in place regarding dietary needs of inmates based on religious preferences. Dietary needs are typically addressed by the facility’s medical staff, he said.

Noah Barth, prison monitor director for the Pennsylvania Prison Society, said the Westmoreland lockup in Hempfield has been on his organization’s radar based on prior complaints from inmates.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first time we’ve seen an abridgement of an incarcerated individual’s right to religious material and religious attire at the Westmoreland County jail,” Barth said.

He said the prison society recently received a complaint from a Muslim inmate who claimed he was denied access to meals and special prayer mats during the monthlong Ramadan observance. The inmate has since been transferred from the county jail.

Barth said county jails and the state prison system are required to make accommodations for religious needs of inmates.

“Mr. Eckman has stated he is Jewish and has asked for kosher meals,” Barth said. “He should be provided with them.”