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NEWS
Traditional Circumcision Crippled in Sweden
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

On October 1 a law went into effect in Sweden interfering with the age-old Jewish practice of circumcision. A registered doctor must be present at the religious ceremony and must inject the infant with an analgesic or an anesthetic. This means that no Jewish circumcision may be performed on Shabbos or yom tov, as the injection violates Shabbos and is not necessary to perform the circumcision. According to reports received by Yated Ne'eman, the matter became an issue of public debate in Sweden and it was dicussed in the popular media.

R' Aba Dunner, the Secretary General of the Council of European Rabbis (CER), confirmed that the CER has been concerned and involved with the legislation passed by the Swedish parliament that seeks to interfere with Jewish circumcision in Sweden.

Dayan Ehrentreu, a board member of the CER who was part of a delegation that met with the Swedish ambassador on behalf of the UK Board of Deputies, explained that there were various issues that needed to be addressed and that these were explained to the ambassador.

"There is a need for the Swedish authorities to understand that their directives dealing with the issue of circumcision must take into account the concerns of Jews not only in Sweden but of those throughout Europe.

"Circumcision as practiced in the UK meets the highest medical standards and is supervised by the Initiation Society, which is fully recognized by the authorities in the UK.

"We think that the Swedish authorities would be well advised to visit the UK and to study the methods and practice as performed in this country in order to base their directives upon those methods.

"Failure to implement the proposals put forward by us would make it difficult for Jews to be able to practice their religious obligations in Sweden and would thus discriminate against a community that seeks to live within a free society."

The Swedish parliament passed a law on June 1, requiring circumcision to be performed only by a physician or another person with appropriate training. It also requires the administration of an analgesic or an anesthetic in connection with the procedure.

Bo Lindblom, deputy director of Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare, said the legislation arose after a handful of serious injuries and a death occurred during circumcisions in the Scandinavian country. He said most of those injured were Muslims.

Jewish groups pointed out that circumcision has been performed safely throughout history and criticized the legislation as an "unnecessary" restriction on freedom of religion.

Under the new law, a mohel can apply for a special permit to perform the ceremony, but somebody must be qualified to administer the analgesic.

 

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