Another Bearded Success Story for Aleph Institute

Georgia’s First Jewish Military Chaplain Will Get to Keep His Beard

Chabad.org Staff

Feb 28, 2008

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.”

Read the rest of the story at Chabad.org.