Town Elects First Orthodox Jewish Woman Fire Lt.

PIKESVILLE, Md. (WJZ) ― History has been made at the 110-year-old Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company with the election of its first ever Orthodox Jewish female lieutenant. In fact, Lt. Andrea Lavine is the first in the history of Baltimore County. "I have wanted to ride in a medic unit ever since I was seven and watched the TV series Emergency," she said. When she's not working at the fire house, Lt. Lavine's a wife, mother of two teenage daughters and a pediatric social worker at the University of Maryland Medical Center. As for dress requirements for an Orthodox Jewish woman, Lt. Lavine says "I called my rabbi and he said it was okay for me to wear pants rather than a skirt when I'm on emergency calls. After all, in Orthodox Jewry, helping people becomes really paramount." "Andrea adds excitement to the fire house and... [read full story]