The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/brit-milah/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:29:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png brit milah | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/brit-milah/ 32 32 US ambassador to Belgium urges nation to drop charges over illegal circumcisions https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-ambassador-to-belgium-urges-nation-to-drop-charges-over-illegal-circumcisions/ Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:01:37 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3755549 Accusations against three mohels for acting without medical license are 'antisemitic,' Bill White says; European Commission also seeking a solution to impasse over Jewish ritual

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]]> Circumcision could be child abuse if done wrong, UK draft guidelines say — report https://www.timesofisrael.com/circumcision-could-be-child-abuse-if-done-wrong-draft-uk-guidelines-say-report/ Sun, 11 Jan 2026 11:04:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3731168 Jewish community activist tells the Guardian that document's wording is 'misleading,' would 'very much expect' it to be excluded from Crown Prosecution Service's final draft

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]]> Belgium’s Jewish community on edge after police raids on illegal circumcisions https://www.timesofisrael.com/belgiums-jewish-community-on-edge-after-police-raids-on-illegal-circumcisions/ Wed, 14 May 2025 15:52:34 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3549013 Police in Antwerp looking for rabbis conducting the religious rite without medical license; Jewish group says raids part of larger campaign of intimidation against Jews in Belgium

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]]> ‘We are collateral damage’: Orthodox Belgian MP set to fight for the Jews of Europe https://www.timesofisrael.com/we-are-collateral-damage-orthodox-belgian-mp-set-to-fight-for-the-jews-of-europe/ Sat, 21 Dec 2024 13:02:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3440742 As the European Jewish Association's first diplomatic envoy, Michael Freilich will go to battle as Jews' and Muslims' religious freedoms are systematically shrunk in the EU

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]]> Non-Orthodox converts to Judaism eligible for free circumcision, High Court rules https://www.timesofisrael.com/non-orthodox-converts-to-judaism-eligible-for-free-circumcision-high-court-rules/ Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:45:29 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3177375 Decision ends a 14-year legal struggle for treatment equal to that of males who undergo Orthodox conversion

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]]> Antwerp rabbi files police complaint against 6 circumcisers who suck blood by mouth https://www.timesofisrael.com/antwerp-rabbi-files-police-complaint-against-6-circumcisers-who-suck-blood-by-mouth/ Tue, 21 Nov 2023 12:11:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3158513 Moshe Aryeh Friedman, whom many in Belgian Jewish community consider a gadfly, says that the custom known as 'metzitzah b'peh' is dangerous and unnecessary

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]]> How the EU antisemitism warrior became a defender of kosher slaughter, circumcision https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-the-eu-antisemitism-warrior-became-a-defender-of-kosher-slaughter-circumcision/ Mon, 26 Jun 2023 06:23:42 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3038112 The bloc's point person for fighting Jew-hatred, Katharina von Schnurbein, is an influential advocate for Jewish customs many consider controversial in Europe

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]]> A single absentee mohel is thwarting dozens of converts at very end of their journey https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-single-absentee-mohel-is-thwarting-dozens-of-converts-at-very-end-of-their-journey/ Fri, 19 May 2023 07:41:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3017922 The government's Conversion Authority has a long backlog of men waiting for months for a 10-second circumcision inspection to be considered Jewish

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]]> New US Jewish group aims to normalize not circumcising, wants synagogues to help https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-us-jewish-group-aims-to-normalize-not-circumcising-wants-synagogues-to-help/ Mon, 11 Oct 2021 01:10:43 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2629503 Bruchim says it is giving a voice to those who seek other ways to join the Jewish covenant; retorts a Conservative rabbi: Brit milah 'is about as basic to Judaism as you can get'

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]]> Parents flee hospital with seriously hurt baby after circumcision gone wrong https://www.timesofisrael.com/parents-flee-hospital-with-seriously-hurt-baby-after-circumcision-gone-wrong/ Fri, 11 Sep 2020 14:38:25 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2386198 Police eventually track down couple and escort them to medical center to ensure baby gets treatment; child in stable condition, but requires emergency surgery

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]]> Russia has a full-time surgeon whose only job is circumcising Jewish men https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-has-a-full-time-surgeon-whose-only-job-is-circumcising-jewish-men/ Fri, 14 Aug 2020 07:52:02 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2363102 Traveling from the western border with Europe to the far-flung eastern reaches close to Japan, Dr. Yeshaya Shafit, Russia's only dedicated mohel, does about 10 procedures a week

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]]> As corona cuts off borders, Oslo baby’s delayed circumcision is tip of iceberg https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-corona-cuts-off-borders-oslo-babys-delayed-circumcision-is-tip-of-iceberg/ Tue, 17 Mar 2020 14:52:41 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2260865 Small Jewish communities are left bereft of rabbis, cantors, and ritual circumcisers as countries attempt to stem spread of COVID-19

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]]> Tarantino and Israeli wife Daniella Pick name their first son Leo https://www.timesofisrael.com/quentin-tarantino-and-israeli-wife-name-their-first-son-leo/ Sun, 01 Mar 2020 13:00:37 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2250116&preview=true&preview_id=2250116 Couple hold Jewish ritual circumcision, name baby after Pick's grandfather -- not after actor DiCaprio

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]]> Jewish women move into a male domain: Ritual circumcision https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/28/nyregion/circumcision-bris-mohels-women.html?referringSource=articleShare Sat, 29 Feb 2020 00:40:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2249425 The New York Times: US Jews are increasingly turning to female mohels, many of whom are doctors but not all rabbis, to circumcise their newborns

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]]> 4 NY babies get herpes from Jewish circumcision rite in past 6 months https://www.timesofisrael.com/4-ny-babies-get-herpes-from-jewish-circumcision-rite-in-past-6-months/ Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:27:46 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2247059 Cases reported since September from 'metzitzah b’peh'; infants were hospitalized, received intravenous antiviral drugs and are now recovering

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