Berlin – Israel’s chief rabbi is in Germany for talks aimed at smoothing over a controversy over the legality of circumcising young boys.
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German lawmakers have called for the government to draft a law this fall explicitly permitting “medically correct circumcision.” That call came after a Cologne court concluded in June that circumcision amounts to bodily harm — a ruling that doesn’t amount to a ban but worried Jewish and Muslim groups.
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who represents Israel’s European-descended Jews, noted Tuesday that Jews are religiously required to circumcise baby boys on the 8th day after birth.
But he suggested after meetings at the Justice Ministry and elsewhere that rabbis could certify mohels, people trained and specialized in the Jewish ritual of circumcision, after they receive additional medical training.
A Yid should be able to do, to his own child, whatever the the Torah demands, even if the Govrernments deem it to br “harmful”.
Just imagine if the Gov’t would get involved when Avrohom Avienu went to the Akeido. Or when a father needs to sell his young daughter to an Amoh Eivriyo. Or when Yiftach Hashoifet needed to burn his daughter to be M’kayem his Nedder. Or when we need to do the Parsha of Ben Sorer.
Governments should stay out of all Religions.