NY Daily News
Litzman leaves court at 500 Pearl Street with his daughters (from eft to right; Chaya Muska, 10, Chana, 7, Itasara, 9) and wife Miriam.

Lubavitcher Cop Fired for Beard Reinstated

Fishel Litzman, the Hasidic cop fired because he said his religious beliefs prohibited him from trimming his facial hair, was reinstated and has been assigned to the Bronx, his lawyer said Thursday.

Officer Litzman was fired in June 2012, a month shy of graduating from the Police Academy, because he refused to adhere to department standards limiting beards to no more than 1 millimeter in length.

Litzman, 39, a married father of five, went to work as a paramedic to support his family and filed a federal suit to get his job back.

In November, Judge Harold Baer ruled that Litzman was the victim of religious discrimination.

In December, he ordered Litzman reinstated and billed the city $137,000 in lawyer fees.

Litzman’s first day on patrol in the 46th Precinct was last week, his lawyer Nathan Lewin said.

Lewin said the city shortly after the ruling filed its notice to appeal the ruling. He said he is hoping the new administration will drop the appeal.

“I’m very pleased Fishel is back on the police force,’ Lewin said. “He’s going to be a tremendous police officer. “I have no doubt about that.”

A city Law Department spokesman said, “We are still reviewing our options.”

8 Comments

  • Stand up!

    Good for you Fishel Litzman! No Jew is punished for holding strong to the Torah. The G-d of Israel neither slumbers not sleeps. ( What’s wrong with you #1??)
    Hashem watches all His children, and He doesn’t go by which zip code you’re working in!!

  • The truth can be frightening

    the 46 pct isn’t bad he would have been better off in the 49 pct the home of 2 official Shluchim & 2 others Kosher food & several Minyanim no offense to Riverdale & Shemtov

  • about time

    They gave him this post because it’s a close commute. There are places in the Bronx that are safer then Brooklyn and places in Brooklyn that are much more dangerous. Think before you speak….

  • shloimie Litzman

    My brother requested the Bronx because of it’s close proximity to commute from Monsey so they actually accommodated his request and he’s B”H very happy there .