"The beard has to go!"
This was the command given to an Israeli soldier by his commanding officer during the Yom Kippur War. There was a serious panic that the Egyptians were poised to mount a chemical attack against Israel. Long beard hair would obstruct the gas mask that the soldiers would need to wear. A religious Jew, he understood that in a case of mortal danger one would be allowed to shave off the beard. The commandment to grow a beard is outweighed by the commandment to preserve life. But the question was, is this in reality a situation of mortal danger? And if so, is shaving 100% necessary? The soldier was given permission to seek rabbinical guidance. So he asked these questions to the Rebbe. In his short but brilliant response, the Rebbe wrote four points: 1. It is obvious that there will be no chemical attack 2. Even if there was one, it is very easy to wear a gas mask over a beard. You should show this to your commander. 3. If these arguments are not enough then you can agree to carry around with you a pair of scissors, so if the need arises you can quickly cut off your beard, which will take no more than one minute. 4. During World War I, poison gas was widely used and all armies including the British put on gas masks. Yet the Indian Sikhs, who fought in the British Army, were given permission to keep their beards and distinguished themselves in battle. I believe these four points are encompassing of the Rebbe's uniqueness. Each one expresses a different element of his majestic character and gives us a glimpse of his muitilayered personality. Only the Rebbe could say in complete confidence "there will be no chemical attack." To be able to take responsibility for the safety of thousands of people on your shoulders, you had better know what you're talking about. And the Rebbe did. History showed the accuracy of the Rebbe's prophetic vision again and again. There were indeed no chemical bombs. The Rebbe deeply believed that living a life supported by the Torah and its commandments need not be opposed to living a life in the here-and-now of the modern world. An observant Jew can provide input to society without compromising on their Judaism one little bit. You can keep your beard and wear a gas mask too. While the Rebbe was a heavenly man, he was also extremely down to earth. He was at once a person of unquestioning faith and a man of hard logic. "Carry a pair of scissors." Who can respond to that? Some questions are not questions at all if you think a bit out of the box. And then, he brings in the case of Indian Sikhs fighting for the British in World War I to prove that a Jew can keep his beard. This is a perfect example of the Rebbe's acute awareness of the world outside of his milieu, and his ability to absorb from everyone and everything. The Rebbe; a man with higher vision, uncompromising values, clear logic and worldly wisdom - that, and so much more. Rabbi Moss and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Bluming
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AuthorRabbi Mendel Bluming also dedicated six years to serving on the board of directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, where he received the Matthew H. Simon Rabbinical Award for exceptional communal leadership. Archives
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