Israel will produce special face masks for beards for religious reasons

One of the most obvious outward signs of the traditional Jew is the use of the beard. Many Jewish men, not all, have their faces full of beards almost untouched.

One of the measures to combat the pandemic is that people have to cover their mouths and noses in public. This guideline applies not only in Israel but worldwide.

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Palestinian citizens of Israel, which comprise about 20 percent of the country’s population, have felt “excluded” from the country’s protective measures to combat the coronavirus, according to Knesset member Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List, a coalition of predominantly Arab parties.

Israelis who have beards for religious or traditional reasons will have the option of wearing custom-made masks to protect themselves from the Covid-19, rather than being forced to remove them, a government official said Monday.

Many of the country’s Jews and Muslims, and some Christian clerics, wear beards as a mark of faith, and the order raised questions about how facial hair would be arranged.

“We are creating an industrial certification for the masks, which means that in a few days there will really be masks of different sizes,” deputy director of the Ministry of Health, Itamar Grotto, told Army Radio.

“… Those with beards will be able to wear the appropriate masks,” he added.

A spokesman for Chief Rabbi said he could consider issuing a ruling that allows religious Jews to shave if the ministry considers it necessary.

Grotto said seeking a rabbinic exemption to remove facial hair “is not on the agenda right now.”

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