Beard Prohibition Deters Recruiting Jewish Military Chaplains

An August 26 article in The Forward points out that the severe shortage of Jewish chaplains in the military is exacerbated by the military's insistence that beards are not permitted. Only 29 Jewish chaplains are on active duty in the military. Many young Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis might be interested in enlisting if beards were permitted. Unlike some Orthodox Jewish groups which permit shaving with an electric razor, Chabad prohibits removal of facial hair by any means. The military insists however that beards interfere with the effective use of gas masks. One bearded Lubavitch rabbi does serve in the military, though, because he, as well as Sikhs with beards, who were in the service before 1986 were exempted from the requirement.