Israel changes facial hair regulations for religious troops

[rug]

Commanders will no longer be allowed to force soldiers to shave if they are exempt for religious reasons

Published November 26th 2014
11:12am

The Israeli army has given up the fight - at least on the facial hair front.

Following the imprisonment of a soldier from an ultra-Orthodox Hassidic family who refused to shave his beard for religious reasons, the army announced that commanders will not be allowed to force soldiers to shave if they have an exemption for religious reasons.

Currently, every officer from the rank of lieutenant-general and up is authorized to reject a soldier's shaving exemption and court martial or punish him in any way.

The affair began when Yaakov Biblau, who serves as a computer and electronics engineer in the Israel Air Force, arrived at a new base and was ordered to shave.

http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/52344-141126-israel-changes-facial-hair-regulations-for-religious-troops

[libodem]

1. Wonder if they get to keep the

Cool sideburn ringlets? I've always thought those looked kinda hip even though they are an ancient style.

Glad someone won one against the authoritarian military state.

Go rebels!!!!

[rug]

2. You may like this.

Alas, he himself has since shaved.

[libodem]

3. Thank you rug

I did like it. Loved the sideburns. Beautiful and moving song.

And the man looks and feels like who I'd expect, Jesus, to have been.

This was a rare experience.