Orthodox Jewish Medics Say Volunteer Fire Company Refused Accommodation

According to yesterday's Baltimore Sun, three medics who are Orthodox Jew, have filed complaints with the Maryland Commission on Human Relations and the U.S. EEOC, complaining that the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Co. has been unwilling to permit them to ride on emergency calls. The fire company says that the men's religiously mandated (but short-trimmed) beards might interfere with breathing masks that the Pikesville department was considering buying for its medic corps. However, according to one of the medics, Matthias Goldstein, medics have never been required to wear the masks. The three men say that the real reason for the refusal is Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company's resentment over their involvement with Hatzalah-- a competing volunteer rescue organization organized by Orthodox Jews in neighboring Northwest Baltimore. There have been conflicts between the two groups when Hatazalah responds to a call near or over the county line. A Pikesville spokesman denies the charge, and says this is purely a safety issue.