The IDF will prohibit its soldiers from growing beards for non-religious reasons

April 9, 2014   

According to the report B.'Israel Today'Until now, any soldier could receive a voluntary exemption from beards with the approval of an officer of the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher. However, complaints were raised in the various units that the approval of a "voluntary" beard harms the uniform appearance in IDF units. Thus, according to the current order, even soldiers who received a beard exemption are prohibited from trimming their beards. The IDF stated that permits for the elderly for medical or religious reasons will continue as usual. As for headphones, the decision in the army is that a soldier wearing a uniform will not be able to use large headphones, because they detract from the appearance of IDF soldiers. The IDF emphasizes that soldiers will be able to continue to use smaller wired headphones.