Berlin to introduce law to allow circumcision
German
Ambassador to Israel Andreas Michaelis told a Knesset committee on Monday that
Berlin will introduce legislation allowing circumcision to be practiced in the
country.
Speaking
before the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee, Michaelis
said a law will be introduced overturning a recent court ruling that banned
circumcision in Cologne because it violates children’s rights.
“Jewish
life in Germany in the wake of the awful past events is entirely different,”
said Michaelis. “Obviously the ban on circumcision is more sensitive in Germany
than other places because of the Holocaust, but it’s important to stress that
the Jewish community in Germany is growing.”
During
the gathering, several lawmakers and community representatives voiced their
disapproval of the judge’s decision last week.
MK
Nissim Ze’ev (Shas) said his father, who was a mohel, or ritual circumciser, in
French-occupied Algeria, risked his life during World War II to circumcise
newborns.
“He
traveled throughout [the Algerian city of] Oran despite being in danger,” said
the haredi lawmaker. “Why? Because for generations we have laid down our lives
to uphold our traditions.”
The
Conference of European Rabbis will hold an emergency meeting in Berlin this
week to discuss ways of repealing the ban, it said.
“The
ruling in Cologne is perhaps one of the gravest attacks on Jewish life in
Europe in the post-Holocaust world,” said Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the
Conference of European Rabbis.
“The
court utterly failed to consider how fundamental brit mila is to the Jewish
faith and identity – as the original and eternal symbol of commitment to God.”
Comments
Post a Comment