Washington – The Orthodox Union – the nations largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – commends U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) for urging the U.S. Army to repeal a regulation banning facial hair in order to allow rabbis with beards to serve as chaplains.
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Sen. Gillibrand’s actions are in direct response to a lawsuit filed by Rabbi Menachem Stern in December 2010. In this lawsuit against the U.S. Army, Stern claims that the Army refused his services as a chaplain because he would not shave his beard, (as was reported here on Vos Iz Neias).
This is not the first time that Workplace Religious Freedom issues have come into question in the public service sector. In 1998 the City of Newark ordered its police officers to be clean-shaven, making an exception only for medical conditions. Two Muslim members of the police filed a lawsuit complaining that their freedom of religion was being violated. In 1999 the District Court ruled in their favor, and it was affirmed by the Third Circuit, which found that the city had failed to provide a substantial justification for refusing to make accommodation for religious belief in this policy.
The OU commends Sen. Gillibrand for recognizing the unjust nature of this policy and for taking quick action to defend religious civil liberties.
There is no logical reason why a Rabbi or other Jewish or Seikh or other person can not have a beard on active duty. True there may be a gas mask consideration, but how many of these troops and especially rabbis are on the front lines in a war zone that must consider that they need gas masks today. If anything they can shave at the time of war engagement or even sign a waiver that they are willing to take that risk. Let’s face it, its just a policy that the military wants to do to ensure that noone looks like they are “off the ” beaten path. And thats a fact. Thanks!
Let him remain a general in Tzivos Hashem. No issue with keeping the beard in that army!!
in response that the army does not allow men to keep their beards so they don’t look like they are “off the ” beaten path. Consider please why the army recently changed their policy on tattoos. Second Col. Goldstein has demostrated that with his full beard he can put on a gas mask faster than the avg soldier.
#1 I agree.
I am Haredi with unshaven beard and am a former Marine. Even though I was not observant when I served I think the availability of an Orthodox Rabbi to troops would be very vital.
The US military continues using the “gas-mask” argument but it really is silly becasue your odds of surviving an initial exposure without any difficulties or longlasting effects are slim.
it is more an army culture issue than anything else. Israeli’s with beards, military and civilian have no problem with positive gas mask seals.
Col Goldstein is has been serving in the army with a beard for over twenty years. He has an exemption because he had a beard the law went in effect.