Expert: Ovadiah ben Avraham - 8/11/2006

Question
I have been asked to furnish a letter from my rabbi in order to wear a beard as a Jew. Can you give me such a letter. I have no rabbi nearby that I can go to.

Answer
Randy,
It will be difficult for you to get such a letter from someone who does not know you personally; your observance, your Jewishness, etc. Sometimes people use other religion's precepts for their own advantage and really aren't that religion at all, like the man who refused to have to children vaccinated for school, stating he was a Christian Scientist, when he was not.
Likewise, a beard may indeed be a hazard in your line of work or they may be such other concerns that have caused your company to apparently forbid wearing facial hair.
As an observant Jew, you undoubtably go to shul for the High Holidays, so speak to that Rabbi, explain the situation, and accept his ruling. If he rules in your favor, then he will probably write the letter for you or speak to your boss personally.
In the meantime, discuss with your boss why you believe it improper to shave your beard and be prepared to back it up with the traditional Torah verses on the subject. However, if you're eating bacon in the cafeteria (not keeping kosher) or working on Saturday, he's unlikely to give sway on this solitary issue. Maybe you can work out a compromise. In my own case, I have perpetual five-o-clock shadow because I 'shave' with a trimmer not a blade, but do not sport a full beard.
All the best! Shalom!