Regional Comissioner (Tafsar) of Israel’s Fire Department Aryeh Regev issued a letter on Sunday clarifying that any fire fighter who maintains a religious lifestyle is allowed to grow a beard during the days of Sefiras Ha’Omer.
The letter, negates the claims previously made by firefighters that they are not allowed to grow beards.
Regev wrote in the letter: “During Sefirat Ha’Omer it is customary to not shave. In the Fire Department, the issue of shaving is critical in terms of protecting the lives of firefighters while wearing our protective masks. However, I am instructing that any firefighter who maintains a religious lifestyle (i.e. wears a kippah, keeps Shabbos etc…) is permitted to grow a beard during the days of Sefirat Ha’Omer. The rest of the firefighters will arrive ready for shift shaved, just like every other day of the year.”
This change in policy is a step towards allowing a more accommodating system for religious firefighters within the department across Israel.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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One Response
#Stupid – So…. frum men can be Dr’s and Hatzalah members and therefore regularly drive and carry electronic devices on Shabbos (not saying they shouldn’t) but, for sfirah they should risk their own lives and the lives of their colleagues by not shaving for a job that requires you to be ready to respond to a fire with a properly fitted mask.