By COLlive reporter
A major and historic event will take place at Friday, December 9, 2011 at 10 AM when Rabbi Menachem M. Stern, a Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi will be sworn into the U.S. Army as a Chaplain, First Lieutenant.
He will be doing so wearing a full beard.
This event comes after over 2 years of effort by Rabbi Sanford L. Dresin, Chaplain (COL) USA Ret, Director of Military Programs for The Aleph Institute and constitutional lawyer Nathan Lewin.
The Army had refused to permit Rabbi Stern to enter the Chaplaincy even subsequent to a Chaplain Accession Board that had found him fully qualified to serve, arguing that his beard would violate uniform and appearance regulations, this despite the fact that a large number of special forces troops are wearing beards for operational reasons.
Jews who identify with Chabad view a beard as a requirement of Halacha.
Over 30 years ago a one-time exception for a beard had been granted to a Chabad Rabbi, Jacob Goldstein by then Army Chief of Staff, General Bernard Rogers.
Rabbi Goldstein continues to serve with distinction in the Army Reserve as a chaplain in the rank of colonel. The Army recently settled with Rabbi Stern out of court agreeing to commission him and grant him a waiver for his beard.
Given the current shortage of rabbis in the Armed Forces, the Aleph Institute hoped that the precedent set by Rabbi Stern will encourage and permit other Chabad Rabbis to enter the military chaplaincy.
The Aleph Institute is recognized by the Department of Defense as a military chaplain Ecclesiastical Endorsing Agency, giving it authority to recruit, vet and endorse rabbis for the military chaplaincy.
The ceremony will take place on Friday at 10 AM December 9, 2011 at The Shul, 9540 Collins Ave., Surfside, FL.
Watch a live broadcast at Aleph-Institute.org/stream
juvenile, pathetic AND jealous
you must be eligible for some kind of prize
nmaybe because tthere are Jews in he US army who need Rabbi, not a rabbit.
What do you mean “not to family members”?You can apply if you have Semichah and a BA.There are many other requirements you have to pass prior to being appointed an officer.Height and weight are very important as well as medical.In short you have to be medically fit , pass a serious security background check,academic qualified, and undergo a series of interviews with senior Chaplains before your paperwork goes to an approval board for submission.Lastly, you must be a US citizen to apply.Green card will not work.
Chaplain (Col) Jacob Goldstein
this is the US army not the shlichus system. They don’t just hire people cause they’re related.
on base!
Wow, a true kiddush Lubavitch. Hope others will realize the importance a full beard displays! Yiras shomamim
Wow this has been a long time in the works, I just hope the remaining positions,are given based on qualification and not to family members of the current Jewish chaplains.
Great achievement, Great kiddush Hashem ,
Yaagdil Torah V’yaadir
yay!
why wood he want to be in the army ?