In another day and age, Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Zalman Lipskier’s full length beard might have prevented his being a military chaplain. But in a sign of the times, when Lipskier is formally commissioned as a chaplain in the Georgia State Defense Force and its Army and Air National Guards, he will become the first Jewish chaplain in the state’s military history, beard and all.
“It’s a matter of having authentic Jewish representation in the Defense Force, or not,” says Commanding General Michael McGuinn about the special waiver that allows Lipskier to keep his facial hair. “Rabbi Lipskier is a fine, fine man, and he will perform a tremendous service for the troops. We’re thrilled to have him join us.”
Lipskier also has a five-year history of volunteer chaplaincy at Fort Benning, location of the U.S. Army Infantry School. His appointment to the Georgia State Defense Force represents the second time a Chasidic rabbi has joined one of the nation’s 25 volunteer State Defense Forces. Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum, who also received a special waiver for his beard, joined the Maryland Defense Force in November (reported HERE on YWN).
In his new role, Lipskier, 31, will provide critical chaplaincy services for the some 13,500 troops in Georgia’s National Guard and their families, regardless of religious denomination. Chief among his tasks will be to assist soldiers deploying abroad, as well as those returning from combat zones.
“I’ll be there for them and their families,” says the rabbi, “when they go out and when they return safely, G‑d willing.”
(Source: Chabad)
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16 Responses
all our hearts are out for you and the kiddush hashem you have made for our people.no doubt you will do a superb job that will be good for the usa and jews world wide.
That info is not accurate. There was a another Jewish Chaplain who did have a beard serving in the military either in active or reserve duty. He is also Lubavitch and his name is Rabbi Goldstein. He was even stationed in Iraq sometime in the past few years over Sukkos. There was an article & picture written in the Hamodia or Yated about him.
Shkoiach!
It must be tough to be a chaplain for goyim as well.
Whats the big kiddush Hashem? If he makes a good impression on people, then I hear and agree. But a beard? It’s cool, but its not a mitzvah to have a beard. It’s not “part” of our religion.
My son-in-law is an Orthodox (not Chabad) chaplain in the USAF. When he was active duty, he was not allowed a beard; however, in reserve duty, he can have a beard.
howdy, the info is accurate. He is the first chaplain in GEORGIA’s state history, not in the U.S. Also, correct me if i am wrong here cause i might be, a full length beard might refer to someone who does not trim the beard, Goldsteins definitely looks like it has been shaped with some tools while this one doesnt. Either case, they are both wonderful people making a kiddush Hashem. Btw, it think it was the Hamodia since i dont read the Yated and i have seen it too.
kol hakavod to all the jewish soldeiers who make a kiddush hashem
b’zchus this may the glory of heaven be revealed
What is the big Kiddush Hashem by having a beard? If he acts nicely and people see that and respect him for that, it will be a Kiddush Hashem? But a beard? Why is that a Kiddush Hashem? A beard is not part of Yiddishkeit.
#2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(country)
Georgia is a Country not the state Georgia (in the US).
#9 You’re wrong. Lokk in the article, it indicates that it’s the American Georgia state, and you can see on the US flag that appears on his uniform too.
“the info is accurate. He is the first chaplain in GEORGIA’s state history, not in the U.S.”
This is also slightly incorrect or misleading. Rabbi Avrom Horvitz has been a Chaplain in the Army for decades and has been at Ft. benning GA for at least 2-3 years now. He lives in the frum community in Atlanta.
What is correct, it seems is that he is the first chaplain in the STATE defense forces. In other words, there is another frum chaplain in GA, but not in the local state government.
If Rabbi Lipsker’s Georgia National Guard unit gets called up for Federal service and deployed to Iraq (or wherever), I believe he will then come under U.S. Army regulations and be required to shave his beard. If, however, he can find a medical reason why he cannot shave, he might get the requisite permission to keep it (but he’d probably have to trim it).
#12 i dont think he will trim it..
# 6 & #12 Rabbi Goldstien served in Iraq, Afganistan and several other war zones and as neat as his beard looks, he does not trim, shave or anything else.
ImustShteig:
Why dont you takka shteig and learn why you should have a beard!
ImustShteig — March 1, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
>>It’s not “part” of our religion.
It’s not? So when the Ribono Shel Oilam wrote “Lo sashchisu pias zikonecheh” He was only kidding? He really meant you SHOULD shave with a sam, with a scissors, or with an electric razor but he couldn’t find a better way of expressing it other than “Don’t cut your beard? When the Chofetz Chaim writes in his sfarim that a Yid should have a beard: in Nidchay Yisroel, Zachor L’miriam, Sefer Hamitzvos Hakatzor (where he’s machmir like the Chinuch, saying a person who shaves is also oiver lo silbash and chukas ha’akium,) Machaneh Yisroel, and a whole sefer, tiferes ha’adom where he writes how important it is for a Yid to have a beard and payis, the Chofetz Chaim was wrong and you know better? I don’t where you’re shteiging, but do your shver a favor and go to work. If he’s paying for you to learn and you can express such ignorance of Torah and Yiddishkeit, it’s a shaila of gezel.