Nov 11, 2009 12:09 pm US/Eastern
Orthodox Jewish Medics Say Beard Ban Discriminates
PIKESVILLE, Md. (WJZ) ―
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Three paramedics filed a complaint against Pikesville's volunteer fire company, saying they are victims of discrimination based on their Orthodox Jewish beliefs.
CBS
Three paramedics filed a complaint against Pikesville's volunteer fire company, saying they are victims of discrimination based on their Orthodox Jewish beliefs.
Suzanne Collins explains it involves a problem of having facial hair when wearing a safety mask.
Matt Goldstein responded to sick cases for almost 17 years as a paramedic, but he hasn't put on his Pikesville uniform since January. His volunteerism there came to an end earlier this year over the issue of safety masks.
"I've been very passionate about this for so many years. It's unfortunate to be prevented from helping people," he said.
Goldstein and two other medics have just filed a discrimination case. It says they were required to wear a safety mask, but doing so would mean shaving their beards.
Many Orthodox Jews do not shave their faces as part of their religious beliefs.
The chief of the Pikesville Fire Company says he's surprised by the charges. He insists the only issue is safety and it's not about religious discrimination.
"Absolutely not. We are a hundred percent diverse. We have a lot of female members and a lot of other Jewish members," said Chief Glenn Resnick.
The medics say a basic part of their training is not to enter a burning building, so they don't need a mask. Firefighters are trained to enter the building and bring the injured people to the medics outside.
But Chief Resnick says they want all medics to have masks anyway, in case they must enter a building with hazardous fumes.
"There may be someone in a house with a carbon monoxide incident and they need that protection for their own safety," he said.
Goldstein says he has suggested an alternate mask that would cover their heads like hoods so beards wouldn't have to be shaved. Apparently talks throughout the year haven't resulted in a solution, so the case was filed Friday.
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed the complaint on behalf of the three paramedics.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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