NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The North Miami Beach Police Department has hired Florida’s first Orthodox Jewish police officer to be granted, as a condition of his hiring, the ability to observe the sabbath and not work Friday night or Saturday shifts.
Yehuda Topper, who will be observing Sabbath, was sworn in on Thursday evening at the Senator Gwen Margolis Amphitheatre.
“The Sabbath is the seventh day God rested,” the kippah-wearing officer said about the day of religious observance from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
Arthur Sorrey, the city manager, said it was also the first time the department hired an officer who is a practicing Orthodox Jew.
“It’s a big deal for us,” Sorrey said, adding the city has a large Orthodox Jewish community.
Topper served the New York City Police Department for five years and he is looking forward to a long career in North Miami Beach.