German prosecutor drops charges against circumciser

JTA — A German prosecutor has dropped all charges against a rabbi for his role as a circumciser.

A statement by the Hof prosecutor on Feb. 21 said that Rabbi David Goldberg of Hof satisfied all requirements regarding child welfare “which are not jeopardized by the circumcision,” the Jewish German publication Jüdische Allgemeine reported. “Circumcisions which are applied with the consent of parents or custodians are not subject to criminal liability,” the prosecutor added.

Charges had been brought against Goldberg last year after a court in Cologne ruled that circumcision was illegal in Germany. Goldberg, who has been working as a mohel in Germany since 1997, said he was very pleased the case was now closed and there was clarity on the issue.

Rabbi David Goldberg (photo credit: Courtesy)

“I never had any doubts, I still performed circumcisions,” he said. “But I think this is very good news for parents who did have doubts, and for the entire Jewish community.”

The German parliament has since passed a new law allowing circumcision, with some restrictions.