Hasidic NYPD Recruit Fired Over Beard Length Gets Support From…CAIR?
- Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:14pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
- Print »
- Email »
Former NYPD recruit Fishel Litzman, a Hasidic Jew fired over the length of his beard, now has the Council of American-Islamic Relations calling for him to be reinstated. (Image source: New York Daily News)
The Orthodox Jewish man who was kicked out of the police academy for refusing to trim his beard now has the Council on American-Islamic Relations in his corner.
As The Blaze previously reported, Fishel Litzman was just weeks away from becoming a New York City police officer when he was booted from the program Friday over the length of his beard, which he doesn’t cut for religious reasons. Now, the controversial organization’s New York chapter is calling for him to be reinstated.
“We urge the NYPD to reinstate Mr. Litzman and to work out a reasonable compromise that protects his religious rights and those of other officers while maintaining good order and discipline in the ranks,” Cyrus McGoldrick, the organization’s civil rights manager, said in a statement.
NYPD rules require officers to be clean-shaven, but will allow beards up to one millimeter in length for religious purposes.
According to CAIR, the organization is fighting a similar case involving a Muslim NYPD officer facing disciplinary action over his beard as well.
An NYPD spokesman told the Associated Press said Litzman was aware of the rules when he signed up, while an attorney for Litzman said the department knew when he applied that he would not trim his beard.
In February, CAIR slammed the New York Post for a cartoon that it said evoked “anti-Semitic themes” for depicting terrorists with hooked noses objecting to the NYPD’s warrantless surveillance of Muslims.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 693 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 498 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 352 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 332 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 318 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 318 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 332 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 243 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 318 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (68)
Diane TX
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 4:16pmI wonder if both the Hasidic Jew and the Muslim had beards when they first applied for their positions? If both did, were they told that they would have to shave if they were hired? If one man, or both men did not have beards, that would mean that one or both hid “their strong religious conviction” to set up a trap for the hiring police departments.
Report Post »toto
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 5:38pmStandards should be maintained. If they knew the rules, were not led to believe they can keep beards, then debate over.
Report Post »Retired1
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 6:45pmThis is not a political or religious issure. It is a health and safety issue. I worked for 35 years designing facepieces and breathing sytems for fireman and police. OSHA or Ocupatioanal Safety and Health Administration requires facepiece fit test to isure the wearer has a good fit between skin and mask. Anyone with a beard will fail this test making his facepiece useless to him. Which in our field means esposure to gases that can cause sickness or immediate death. Did you understand the immediate death part. That is why the NYPD fired him. He will not pass the facepiece fit test required by federal law. Some times the answers are simple.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 7:08pmWell now, that makes sense, RETIRED1. Thanks for your explanation.
Isn’t it annoying these people out there screwing around with our ignorance to try to sway public opinion and cause a commotion where there should be none at all?
Report Post »Pendragon
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 7:39pmNo Diane Hasidic Jewish American Born and Raised have had beards for Years This is Bloomberg I am not being a troll or zombie and am far from being a leftie I am a Republican and I am By blood a Jew…So let me ask you this Are your willing to be banned from having a Christmas Tree?? Are you willing to go to Jail for saying merry Christmas?? If the Church bells ring and the City says no more church bells they are against the law do you take them down??? If you wear a Cross around your neck at work and have done so for months do you remove it when they say it is banned?? What happens when you sit down to lunch at work and Say Grace and they right you up for being offensive?? What about a job that has let you off for church for years and now they say sorry no you cannot go to church because you represent the company and it is offensive.That is the same freedoms that Hasicidic Jews have been allowed for years to do and until recently under Bloomberg it has been changed…Do you think Hasidic Jews Just started Joining the Force?? they have always been allowed to keep the Beard..I have lived and came from NY City I have Family that is retired Hasidic Jews from both the Fire and Police forces and never had to shave..Now they do and as a christian that is what they will face as well it is called eroding and demoralizing the people of faith
Report Post »Alky
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 8:17pmAccept the dress code policy, or don’t apply for the job, what’s so hard about that???
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 3:53am@ Diane
Point made perfectly.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 6:22amI support Israel, but rules are rules. In this case Justice should be blind. They make a concession of one millimeter (if they have the “no razor should touch my face” view, they can trim it that short with scissors, I would imagine).
Report Post »DisgruntledInClinton
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:48pmAnd if they allow this, next, women will be covering their faces with whatever those things are called while they drive, etc., putting us at risk for terrorism. While I feel for this man and his wanting to maintain his religious beliefs, didn’t he think this through? Didn’t he realize this was an eventuality?
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 3:06pm@retired
Your response is best. I was fitted tested when I worked at a pulp and paper mill.
Report Post »Contrarian51
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 4:05pmHere’s a compromise for you: The employer has long-established rules regarding appearance and conduct. Abide by them or work somewhere else. But stay away from working at that no-good dictatorship Noodles because they have the audacity to tell you when to show up, how long to work, and how to prepare the food. The nerve of these employers.
Is anyone else so fed up with this idiocy that you just want to spit?
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 5:15pmyes. using the law to destroy the system. can a democratic republic survive internal attacks on its constitution ? guess we’ll see…
Report Post »toto
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 5:39pmAgreed! So done with all of this. And it is spit in you eye stuff.
Report Post »alpha2omega47
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:54pmIt used to be thought that if you wanted to join an organization or even move to a new country that one was ready and eager to conform to that organization‘s policies or country’s laws. Not any more; people have grown spineless to the ACLU and political correctness. If you want to be part of the NYPD then do what they tell you and expect you to do and if you want to come to America ~ try being an American and abiding by American laws and traditions. You people that want to join things and change them ~ go to hell and don’t come back.
Report Post »Constantine Ivanov
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:40pmEven in Israel! Even in Israel:
The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) prohibits the growing of facial hair unless a special request form has been filed and approved. The requests are generally for religious reasons and for health reasons, such as acne. Once the form has been approved, it is valid for no more than a single year, after which it has to be renewed.
This [jerk] perfectly knew the NYPD rules; it’s just one of creeping methods to destroy AMERICAN culture step-by-step, using the tool We The People gave those destroyers: tolerance.
It’s actually the same abominable move as that of a NY School principle who “doesn’t want to offend other cultures” (see
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/we-don%e2%80%99t-want-to-offend-other-cultures-n-y-principal-reportedly-scraps-god-bless-the-usa-from-school-program/ )
If they don’t like American rules, they have their own country where they might have less restrictions they don’t like (but even Israel has restriction regarding beards!).
Report Post »America should not bend to every singe jerk who doesn’t like America.
possom
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:26pmI smell a rat, Since when do terrorist‘s side with jew’s?
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 5:13pmwhen it benefits them. when they can poke a stick in the American eye of justice. when it can cause trouble for America which they hate as much as they hate Israel.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 8:55pmThry‘re all members of ’The Cornerstone that the builders rejected’ club. A dubious honor, indeed.
Report Post »toidiegalliv
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:24pmI suspect the point might well be performance and safety in the ranks. A S.U.B.A. mask of any kind won’t seal well over a beard and cops and firefighters need to wear them at times. Also, if some violent person grabs into a beard and starts doing gymnastics it can be very difficult for the officer. Clean shaven lends itself to performance criteria that at times will be vital. When one’s faith is paramount, which is a good thing, one must be willing to be limited in some areas.
Report Post »rlimike
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:22pmThey should not change the rules to accommodate individuals;if the guy wants to be an officer HE needs to change not the other way around.Here are 2 examples… Chicago and Cincinnati have done away with the written exams on police hiring because minorities could not pass them, where does it end?
Report Post »toto
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 5:42pmIt ends with a very ignorant employees that have no business being employed if they can not pass the exams.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:03pm“HASIDIC NYPD RECRUIT FIRED OVER BEARD LENGTH GETS SUPPORT FROM…CAIR?”
Report Post »Really not that surprising at all–if you knew anything about theology, you’d know Orthodox Jews and Muslims have far more in common theologically than do Christians and Jews or Muslims.
layla
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:51pmthe NYPD is willing to bend the rules. if you can’t compromise , get another job.
Report Post »don young
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:42pmDoesn,t anyone think they have to follow the rules you went in there knowing the rules so go by them.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:17pmGod is concerned about beards ?
Report Post »randy
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:36pmShave! And while you’re at it, chip and paint the trim around your door!
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:06pmThe NYPD is concerned about beards?
Report Post »llotus
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:07pmTake the one millemeter and be a cop if you want to be a cop. Rules were not made to be broken. Thats why we are where we are now. Lotus.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:00pmTurkey’s Erdogan once compared democracy to riding a bus : “You ride it to your destination, and then you step off.” Or, even more clearly, Omar Ahmad said : “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Quran ,..should be the highest authority in America and Islam the only acceptable religion on earth.” WAKE UP, FOLKS. Our Lefties and these guys are all on the bus together right now….and the destination is not a good one for America !
Report Post »65Mustang
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:59pmHe knew the policies for the appearance and dress code before he joined the force, either conform to the rules of the polices department or go back to wherever you, (includes all cultures) came from. If the immigrants want to retain their cultures, stay in your own country…don’t come to the USA. and expect us to bend over backwards to accommodate your backward culture and religions.
Report Post »mutslie
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:13amheh’ well said! The rich invented religion to confuse the poor………..
When I was in the army I was told we had to shave everday‘ cause hairs carry infection’ eh muzslums (muslims) are an infection/vermin……….. I reck‘n I reck’n.
Report Post »lisalake
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:54pmShave your beards if you on the force…. jews and muslims alike… or go find another job.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:47pmThe camel’s nose is under the tent…these people will play the Discrimination Card just like the Left does . The Discrimination Card is such as easy tool to “change” America which is what they all have planned… for years… use the “ system” to destroy/ change the system….That is why Alinsky told them all to go to law school. Bill Ayers must be so pleased with their progress…
Report Post »Maji
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:01pmIf they found out he was felon would they deviate from
Report Post »“policy” then???
G-WHIZ
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:42amThe camel’s butt is in OUR tent!!
Report Post »TJexcite
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:45pmIn the end the support is a distraction for there own members facing the same problems. They can not cry racism for Muslim beards yet silence on Jewish beards. When the leader of CAIR calls for Jew muder okay
http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/cair-leader-dawud-walid-justifies-slaughter-beheading-of-jews/
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:39pmOf COURSE the ‘CAIR’ bears got involved.
Report Post »New York is going to end up with a bearded police force.
They will be an example for all the Nation.
And finally there will be peace among bearded brothers.
BurntHills
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:38pmthink. CAIR. yeah it makes sense, defend not the man but the BEARD… if they can get their devout sharia bearded muslims into more police depts too, they will have a foot in the door –armed and uniformed– to killing THOUSANDS of our innocent Americans AGAIN when their time comes to strike us AGAIN. .
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:11pmRemember what Hasan did in his uniform ….
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:36pmWhere I work, it’s either clean-shaven or you wear a beardnet. Yep, same thing as a hairnet. It’s a good policy….unless you prefer whiskers in your food.
As for this guy? POLICY WAS STATED PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT! Don’t like it?? FIND ANOTHER JOB!
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:32pmCAIR supports him because they have their own agenda to allow women to cover their faces with rags. No, religious people can do what they want but religious law must never be permitted to dominate over anything else.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:32pmIf your private religion’s beard rules are more important to you than the rules attached to serving the public–do something else.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:30pmIf you can’t adhere to the standards you either signed up for and were agreed upon by all parties… or don’t understand why these standards are even in place… look for a new career regardless of your religion. The slippery slope of “all inclusiveness”…
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:45pmBtw, having CAIR on your side is like having one Presidential “in-limbo” candidate who has yet to endorse Romney, having Neo-Nazi’s, Louis Farrakhan and Iran cheering for you to further their agendas…
Report Post »MRMANN
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:28pmThis story is taking some interesting twists & turns, will be interesting to see how they all shake down. I think he needs to shave though.
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 1:22pm“My God cares how long my beard is.”
Lol, so hilarious.
Report Post »Pendragon
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 8:20pmAnd your G-d died on a cross because he would not compromise his stand or belief
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 9:08pmI don’t have a God, but nice try.
Report Post »