The Rebbe, the Soldier and the Sikh
in honour of Gimmel Tammuz, 24th anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe
"The beard has to go!"
So an Israeli soldier was told by his commanding officer during the Yom Kippur War. There was a serious fear that the Egyptians were poised to mount a chemical attack against Israel. Long facial hair would obstruct the gas mask that the soldiers would need to wear.
A religious Jew, he knew that in a case of mortal danger one would be allowed to shave off the beard. The commandment to grow a beard is overridden by the commandment to preserve life. But the question was, is this indeed a situation of mortal danger? And if so, is shaving absolutely necessary?
The soldier was given permission to seek rabbinical advice. So he asked these questions to the Rebbe. In his brief but brilliant response, the Rebbe wrote four points:
1. It is clear that there will be no chemical attack
2. Even if there would be, it is very easy to wear a gas mask over a beard. You should demonstrate this to your commander.
3. If these arguments are not accepted, 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 a minute.
4. During World War I, poison gas was widely used and all armies including the British used gas masks. Yet the Indian Sikhs, who fought in the British Army, were allowed to keep their beards and distinguished themselves in battle.
I believe these four points are emblematic of the Rebbe's uniqueness. Each one expresses a different aspect of his majestic character and gives us a glimpse of his muitilayered personality.
Only the Rebbe could say unequivocally "there will be no chemical attack." 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 proved the accuracy of the Rebbe's prophetic vision again and again. There were indeed no chemical attacks.
The Rebbe deeply believed that living a life consistent with the Torah and its commandments need not be contradictory to living a life in the here-and-now of the modern world. An observant Jew can contribute 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 figure, he was also extremely down to earth. He was at once a man of unquestioning faith and a man of hard logic. "Carry a pair of scissors." Who can argue with that? Some dilemmas are not dilemmas at all if you think a bit out of the box.
And then, he cites 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 shining example of the Rebbe's acute awareness of the world outside of his milieu, and his ability to learn from everyone and everything.
A man with higher vision, uncompromising values, clear logic and worldly wisdom. That, and so much more, is the Rebbe.
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss