Israeli army lifts beard ban: New rules embrace diversity
The Israel Defense Forces announced on Wednesday that all soldiers are now allowed to wear beards without needing special permission. Previously, individual exemptions from the shaving requirement were necessary, which some Jews viewed as discriminatory.
The Israel Defense Forces stated that all soldiers can wear beards without needing to obtain special permission. The earlier practice of requiring individual exemptions was perceived by some Jews as discriminatory.
In Judaism, beards have deep religious significance, as they stem from the commandments of the Torah. The Torat Lechima organization, which advocated for this change in regulations, expressed satisfaction with the decision.
"After many years of struggle, we succeeded, with divine assistance, and under the leadership of our tireless colleague MK Keti Shitrit, in making an historic and significant correction that will put an end to the bizarre persecution of soldiers who want to grow beards," the organization stated in a declaration.
Bearded soldiers in the Israeli army
According to the new guidelines, every soldier, regardless of religious identification, can wear a beard, provided it is neat and compliant with regulations. This change is intended to increase the comfort of service in the army.
Additionally, minor changes regarding the appearance of women in the army were introduced. The new rules allow nail polish in colors beyond the previous palette, which included only black and pink.
