Octobre
2001
updated december 2002
Restriction
on circumcision in Sweden
|
Aharon
is the first foreign Mohel with an authorisation
to perform brit milah in Sweden |
|
This a copy of
the Jewish
Community of Stockholm (once at http://www.jf-stockholm.org/britmila/eng
. (A french translation at en français)
On
June 1st 2001, the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament) decided to introduce
a law containing restrictions on circumcision. For this reason, the Jewish Community
of Stockholm has initiated this information page with questions and answers
relating to the new law.
Why
do we circumcise our boys?
It
is the duty of every Jewish father to comply with the biblical commandment and
circumcise his son on the eighth day of life, or to appoint a qualified person
(a mohel) to do this on his behalf. The ritual is called brit,
which means covenant. The word for circumcision is mila. Brit mila thus
means “the covenant of the circumcised”. It is a token of the eternal covenant
between God and the Jewish people.
“In
a world where most religious rituals consist of words and gestures”, rabbi
Harold Kushner writes, “circumcision is undoubtedly unique. It is an old
ceremony which still has the ability to affect us…Like other Jewish rites, it
does not change anything – it is a token of it. What is indicated…is the unbroken
chain of Jewish identity, passed on from [parents] to son.”
What
does the Torah (the Five Books of Moses) say about circumcision?
“This
is my covenant which you shall keep between Me and you and your offspring after
you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall circumcise the flesh
of your foreskin, and that shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and
you. At the age of eight days every male among you shall be circumcised, throughout
your generations…”-
Genesis 17:10-12.
“Abraham
circumcised his son Isaac at the age of eight days as God had commanded him.”-
Genesis 21:4
What
is written in the new Circumcision Act and when does it come into force? How did
the members of Parliament vote on this law?
§
A
boy under the age of two months old may be circumcised by a person who is not
a registered physician provided that person has obtained special authorization
from the National Board of Health and Welfare.
§
No
boy may be circumcised without an analgesic, which must be administered either
by a registered physician or by a registered nurse.
§
The
Act comes into force on October 1st 2001.
When the
Circumcision Act was passed the division of votes in the Parliament looked as
follows:
- 249
voted for the proposal from the Standing Committee on Health and Welfare.
- 10 voted
for an even stronger restriction.
- 20 abstained.
- 70 were
not present.
- 0 voted
against the proposal.
Why
we demand that the Act be amended
In the first place, circumcision as it is carried out in the Jewish
tradition is not dangerous. Having children and living in a family with children
is a core value for the Jewish people. It is total alien to our culture to expose
children, not just Jewish children but any children, to injurious treatment.
The love and consideration that surrounds a child at a brit mila, the naming
of the child in the synagogue or at a bar or bat mitzvah in the early teens,
is without reservation.
In the second place, circumcision is a sign of identity and
affinity for the Jewish people. It binds us together with Jews through thousands
of years and it creates affinity with the Jews who live all over the world just
now. Prohibiting circumcision, or in making it impossible to carry out in practice,
would at a stroke cut off the link between the Swedish Jews and Jews in the
rest of the world. The Swedish-Jewish congregation, which is already a small
minority in Sweden and the Jewish world as a whole, would feel even more isolated
and vulnerable.
Thirdly, it is in principle not the task of the Swedish non-Jewish
society to educate the Jewish national minority in Sweden. Swedish opinion molders
who strive for cultural uniformity are, of course, entitled to their opinion,
but it is a scandal that the Riksdag, which has recently recognized the Jewish
group as a national minority, shortly after introduces a restriction on Jewish
life in Sweden, with unforeseeable consequences. If the Act which was adopted
on June 1st 2001, is only the
first step towards a total prohibition, the Riksdag has taken a fateful step
which can lead to the end of Swedish Jewry in a not too far distant future.
What
is the background to it being considered necessary to introduce new legislation
on circumcision in Sweden?
A
government commission was appointed after a tragic death where a three-year
old Muslim boy died in connection with a circumcision carried out by a registered
physician on August 14th 1999. The cause of death was the analgesic,
of which an overdose had been given.
What
happens when the first Jewish boy is to be circumcised after the Act has come
into effect?
After
the new Act, his brit mila will take place with an analgesic, which will be
administered by a registered physician or nurse.
At
present, the National Board of Health and Welfare is investigating how the Act
is to be implemented in practice and will issue regulations before October 1st.
Maynard Gerber (Jewish congregation’s cantor and mohel) and Lena Posner-Körösi
(President of the Jewish Community in Stockholm), attended a meeting with the
National Board of Health and Welfare on June 19th 2001 where a number
of arguments were put forward on the impracticality of analgesic as the Act
is now formulated:
- There
are ointments and a sugar solution which has been used successfully in the
United States. Such a solution can be accepted from a Jewish point of view.
However, it would seem extremely unnecessary to compel a physician to administer
such an analgesic instead of allowing the mohel to do it.
- If
a registered physician or nurse has to attend, a number of other practical
issues arise to which there is no answer as yet:
As
a brit mila must take place before sunset, it will be difficult for a physician
to attend a brit mila for approximately six months a year as the sun sets so
early in Sweden. Physicians with their own practice must in all likelihood be
there during the day.
What
happens when a brit mila has to be carried out on a Sunday or another public
holiday? What physician would be willing to attend at such times?
Who
is to pay for the physician?
Is
the new Act compatible with Halacha (Jewish law)?
This
is a complicated question. It is not possible to give an answer yet since it
has not yet been investigated how the Act is to be carried out in practice.
However,
the extent to which the new Act is compatible with Halacha is unimportant per
se. The road that the Swedish Riksdag has taken is a definite restriction on
the freedom of religion, and that is what we are focusing on.
How
many circumcisions are carried out in Sweden per year?
It
is estimated that approximately 3,000 circumcisions are carried out per year
in Sweden for religious/cultural reasons, of which approximately 40 are carried
on Jewish boys.
Is
circumcision painful?
In regards to circumcision carried out on small children without an anesthetic,
the answer is yes. However, feeling pain is part of life. Birth is a painful
process where the baby’s skull is compressed. When we vaccinate small children,
it also hurts despite the purpose being good. What is important in these transitory
experiences of pain is that the child is the object of care and total attention.
How
do we answer the accusations that circumcision is sexual mutilation, an assault
against children, etc? Does circumcision conflict with the UN Children’s Convention?
Mutilating
a part of the body means that one damages it to such an extent that it does
not work as intended. A circumcised penis functions as it should. The comparison
between circumcision and female genital mutilation is unviable. Female genital
mutilation entails reduced functions in all respects: sexually, from the point
of view of appearance, and it sometimes creates life-threatening problems with
everything from visits to the toilet to childbirth.
As
regards the UN Children’s Convention, Save the Children has written as follows:
“According
to article 24 of the Children’s Convention, the Convention States are to undertake
all effective and suitable measures with a view to abolishing traditional customs
which are harmful to children’s health. Save the Children does not have sufficient
support for male circumcision being harmful in general – it is carried out in
many cultures and is considered in some to be a hygienic measure that prevents
diseases. There are risks in all types of operations. However, Save the Children
does not think that there is sufficient reason to work against male circumcision
as a traditional custom that is harmful for children. Save the Children regards
the child’s right to belongness with its parents and their culture and religion
(according to the Children’s Convention, articles, 5, 14 and 30), as important
for the child’s development.” (No.
7, 1999. The journal “Barn”).
Shouldn’t
a person have the right to decide themselves whether to be circumcised?
Children
are born into a particular context – social, cultural and family-wise. A new-born
baby is not freely floating in the universe without connections and affiliation
– on the contrary these links and affiliations are important requisites when
the individual later constructs his own identity. In the same way as a Christian
family wishes to make their new family member part of the family’s context by
christening, it is part of the Jewish culture to integrate the new male family
member by safe circumcision. However, neither circumcision nor baptism prevent
the individual from making his own future and his own context.
There
are many who can witness that it is considerably more complicated to carry out
circumcision in the teens or adult years. The pain is experienced intensively
and for a longer period and there are more questions from those around the person.
Does
circumcision have any medical benefits?
The
following is a list of the risk factors for uncircumcised men:
A
greatly increased risk of urinary tract infection.
Increased
risk for death during the first year of life from complications after urinary
tract infections such as kidney failure, meningitis and myelitis.
Penis
cancer leading to penis amputation.
Balanitis
– infection under the foreskin and the surface of the glans penis, inflammation
of the foreskin and tightness of the foreskin (phimosis).
This
can lead to narrowing of the urinary tracts with disturbances of micturition.
Reduced
risk of complications if circumcision takes place early in life compared with
if it is carried out on adults.
Not
being circumcised is a risk factor in heterosexually transmitted HIV infection
among men, especially if they have other sexually transmitted diseases at the
same time.
Women
run a greater risk of contracting cervical cancer if their partner is not circumcised.
Professor
Lars Olof Kallings, the Secretary-General of the International Aids Society
(AIS) took part on July 1st 2001 in the program “Godmorgon, världen”
[Good morning, world] on Sweden’s Radio P1. A discussion took place as to why
the difference in the spread of AIDS between adjacent countries in Africa is
so dramatically large. Professor Kallings answers “Some reliable differences
have been found, among other things that circumcised men, as in Muslim counties
where perhaps 99% are circumcised, seems to have a protective effect.”
In
the National Institute of Public Health’s journal Hiv-aktuellt no. 1,
2000, Professor Lars Olof Kallings writes “It has been shown that male circumcision
protects against HIV and other STD, sexually transmitted diseases. The cells
on the foreskin are namely particularly receptive for HIV and STD”.
Do
circumcised men have a poorer sex life?
A
large number of men are circumcised as adults. The research is still incomplete
but there is no support for assertions on poorer sexual experiences. On the
contrary, available research indicates that women prefer circumcised partners
for hygienic and aesthetic reasons. It is worth pointing out that most American
men are circumcised for medical/traditional reasons and not religious reasons.
Decisions on whether this is to be done are generally made by the mothers and
carried out at the hospital where the child is born.
What
is our position on the issue of freedom of religion contra those that say that
there has to be limits for what can be permitted in a democracy in the name
of a religion that is several thousands of years old?
The
question can be put the other way round: what is the reason for ending the tradition
of circumcision? It is an operation that takes a very short time with only mild,
easily bearable pain that very quickly passes. Research has indicated that circumcision
can also prevent certain diseases. And sex life is not affected negatively.
Why should this tradition suddenly be ended?
It
can be noted that Sweden’s introduction of legislation restricting the right
to circumcision has no parallel in Europe since the Nazi period. This is, of
course, not the same thing as asserting that the law is comparable with Nazism
in general. However, Sweden is the only country in the democratic world where
such restrictions now exist.
What
has the Jewish Community of Stockholm done about this issue?
The
Jewish Central Council of Sweden has replied to the circulation for comment
[of Government proposals] on circumcision.
Participated
in interviews in Swedish and foreign press, TV and radio.
Informal
meetings with various molders of opinion and Government representatives have
taken place.
A
visit to the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs as a follow up of the referral
comment in which Bengt Björksten, Stefan Einhorn, Morton Narrowe, Maynard Gerber
and two representatives of the congregation leadership – Lena Posner-Körösi
and Harry Pommert – participated. This resulted in the Government’s proposed
legislation being in accordance with our line and a two-month limit for who
is to be allowed to carry out circumcision and that this person can administer
an adequate analgesic up to two months of age (the part relating to pain relief
was later made more stringent in the Riksdag).
The
Jewish Central Council of Sweden participated in a hearing at the Parliamentary
Standing Committee on Health and Welfare on April 24th 2001 with
a number of the referral bodies. The hearing focused mainly on the part of the
members of the committee on the issue of pain relief - not at all on the existence
or otherwise of circumcision.
Informal
contacts to be informed about the result from the Standing Committee on Health
and Welfare and its proposals to the Riksdag in which it emerged just over a
week and a half before the Riksdag’s session on June 1st that the
committee had amended important parts of the Government Bill.
At
the European General Assembly meeting in Madrid on June 3-6 2001, the Stockholm
delegation had a letter and a resolution passed which was then accepted by all
the organizations present – the European Council of Jewish Communities (39 European
countries), American Jewish Committee, World Jewish Congress, European Council
of Rabbis and B’nei Brith International.
The
World Jewish Congress has given its support to the declarations of the Madrid
resolution in the international press.
Meetings
have taken place with Swedish ambassadors in Finland, France, the United States
and many other countries and criticism made against Sweden and that legislation
has at all been made on a religious issue.
The
Congregation leadership held a meeting with lawyers to go through the text of
the law and how it is to be interpreted legally.
Participated
at a meeting with the responsible lawyers at the National Board of Health and
Welfare who is to formulate regulations for implementation of the Act concerning
Circumcision which came into force on June 1st 2001.
Produced
the information you are reading now.
The
Jewish Community will naturally continue its efforts on this issue as long as
necessary.
Can
the new Circumcision Act be made more stringent?
A
follow-up period of four years has been introduced from October 1st
2001 when the Act comes into effect. “It is hoped that a lively discussion
will take place during these four years leading to a change of attitude among
the groups concerned. And that circumcision will eventually disappear.”
(Riksdag och Departement, no.19, p.20).
The
writing on the wall is clear. Circumcision is to disappear through a “lively
discussion”: We are to be then bombarded with letters, criticizing campaigns,
and telephone calls on our alleged cruelty against our boys until we have seen
“the light”.This
is, of course, unacceptable. Male circumcision is a an indispensable part of
our thousand-year religious inheritance and the issue will be whether Jews in
the long run can continue to live in Sweden. The same also applies to Muslims,
of course.
What
do you think about the new Circumcision Act and the discussion that arising
from it?
Anders
Carlberg, President of the Jewish Community of Gothenburg:
There
have been Jews in Sweden since the eighteenth century and congregations for
over two hundred years. In the nineteenth century, discrimination against Jews
was prohibited and we received rights as citizens that were more advanced than
in other countries. The spirit of the law from 1870 no longer applies. The consequence
is in fact that it is no longer possible to be a Swedish citizen and a Jew at
the same time. I do not believe that the Riksdag realizes what it has done.
It is now up to us, the leadership of the Jewish communities to explain to the
elected representatives and the state that a change should be made as soon as
possible. Because if this is not a mistake, it is a hostile action.
Meir
Horden, orthodox rabbi of the Jewish Community of Stockholm:
Brit
mila is the first mitzvah (commandment) that we Jews were ordered to carry out
and it is fundamental since it symbolizes the covenant between the Jewish people
and God. This covenant which was introduced with the first Jew, Abraham, is
still binding today.
Over
the ages, brit mila has been something which many nations have tried to combat
in different ways. The Greeks prohibited brit mila in 300 BCE, (which was revoked
in connection with the Jewish revolt that led to the establishment of the Jewish
festival Chanukah). The Romans made clear their opposition by posing rhetorical
questions such as “If God really wants us to circumcise our children, why
aren’t they born without a foreskin? Do we have the right to have the right
to change God’s creation?” The rabbis answered that we must constantly do
what we can to develop what has been created into something better and more
refined. Just as the grain from wheat must be processed to become flour and
then bread, so it is with circumcision and our covenant with God.
Brit
mila has always been something that has troubled our opponents. Nothing seems
to have changed on this matter. The world has developed industrially and technologically
although the old way of thinking remains. Today, opposition against brit mila
is carried out under the cloak of “protection of children’s rights”. It is very
clear to us that there are forces in Swedish society that will not be content
until they have succeeded in introducing a total prohibition on male circumcision
in Sweden.
The
Jewish people all over the world have carried out brit mila for 4000 years.
In Sweden we have done so for 225 years with a total of thousands of children
circumcised in this country. This does not seem to have been taken into consideration
when the matter now comes to the fore through a tragic death in another population
group, where circumcision is carried out on other grounds than among the Jewish
population. To pass legislation on such a matter, it might be expected that
some form of scientific research would take place where evidence is put forward.
It can be quickly seen by a deductive study of the history of circumcision among
Jews in Sweden (and the rest of the world if wished) that no problem exists.
Passing legislation against us on such loose grounds, as has been done
in Sweden, is unacceptable.
Sweden
takes pride in being a tolerant country and a protector of minorities and their
rights. During the years I have been in Sweden, exceptional work has been carried
out primarily through the Living History project. However, we must not forget
that Sweden has already retained legislation for many, many decades that restricts
the freedom of religion in this country – the law that prohibits shchita (kosher
slaughtering). This is unique in the whole European Union. We should never have
accepted living with this law. The right to shchita is a basic freedom that
we should have as Swedish citizens. Can anyone show that shchita is more painful
for animals than, for instance, hunting (which is permitted in Sweden)?
I
consider that we must vigorously oppose all restrictions that have been made
against the Jewish minority in this country. I am sure of one thing – throughout
history we have always succeeded in overcoming regulations like this that are
directed against our religion. May this also be the case in Sweden.
Berndt
Katina, President of the Jewish Community of Malmö:
The
legislation is deeply tragic since it leads Sweden into a dangerous path. This
time, it is circumcision undertaken for religious reasons that politicians wish
to stop, next time they will perhaps go further. The Riksdag’s motivation for
the Act is concern for children’s best interests. However, we must not forget
our history: the Nuremberg laws were introduced to “protect” the Jews. Jewish
circumcision is more than a tradition, it is the basis on which the Jewish religion
rests. When a blow is struck against Jewish circumcision, regardless of the
noble motives claimed, it is de facto a blow against Judaism and the Jewish
exercise of religion. I do not consider that this issue should be discussed
in the media. Circumcision is a religious action and is not a subject that is
open to discussion. Through a public debate, we give our opponents an opportunity
to attack us and our four-thousand year old religious traditions.
Chief
rabbi Emeritus Morton Narrowe:
James
Madison, who demonstrated a mixture of practical political knowledge and philosophically
depth, was one of the United States most important Presidents. Madison was the
author of the famous, and very influential “Federalist Papers”. In these documents,
he analyzed among other things the political philosophy of democracy and clarified,
at least for me, what recently took place in the Swedish Riksdag in connection
with the debate and legislation on male circumcision.
Madison
realized that the democratic system has some weak points which legislators and
society as a whole must be on their guard against. One of these he called “The
Tyranny of the Majority”. Madison explains that a democratic society needs a
constitution and a strong Supreme Court to ensure that all minorities in the
country are to be able to follow their own cultural and religious traditions.
This right is of course anything but absolute and without limits. The Mormons
(after Madison’s time) were not permitted to continue with bigamy and extreme
religious sects were not either allowed to offer their children to their idols.
However, the Bill of Rights protects minorities usual although differing liberties.
An intolerant majority could otherwise in its eagerness to enforce conformism
deprive the minority of their democratic rights – to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness.
We
have seen what the tyranny of the majority can lead to in the new Act on Circumcision,
where unfortunately an ignorant and, what is worse, ill-willed political majority
in the Swedish Riksdag, took a big first step towards a future prohibition against
male circumcision. Many debaters made clear during the debate that they aim
for prohibition and even voted for this. American pediatric experience has clarified
and underlines that male circumcision has certain medical benefits and hardly
any proven disadvantages.
In
Sweden, one speaks about the “Swedish way” an expression worth considering.
I know that the understanding of male circumcision was not the old “Swedish
way”. However, it pains me to find out that the majority of the Riksdag, the
people who should be leading us from a homogenous to a multicultural society
do not protect the unique rights of the minority and ensure their freedom of
religion.
Madison
can serve as a guide for us in the “new” Sweden. We must be on our guard against
the tyranny of the majority.
Lena
Posner-Körösi, President of the Jewish Community of Stockholm and the Jewish
Central Council of Sweden:
In
the past year, the Community has in various ways been one of several parties
in the discussion that has taken place on male circumcision and legislation
in the medical profession and in Läkartidningen [journal for physicians] and
in other media channels.
After
the Jewish Central Council of Sweden had made a statement in the form of a comment
on the referral, the statement was supplemented by a meeting at the Ministry
of Health and Social Affairs. This meeting led to the Government and the Ministry
in their Government Bill fully responding to the points of view of the Jewish
group. These concerned both who is to be able to carry out circumcision on boys
up to two years of age and which type of analgesic is to be administered.
Everything
was satisfactory until the various referral bodies, including the Jewish Central
Council were invited to a hearing at the Standing Committee on Health and Welfare
in April. The hearing focused on the issue of pain relief, since the majority
of the referral bodies there represented medical expertise. Cantor and mohel
Maynard Gerber, Professor and pediatrician Bengt Björksten and the undersigned
represented the Jewish Central Council.
Despite
the emphasis on the question of pain relief, we none the less considered that
the discussion was nuanced. To our great surprise, and after a conversation
with the Ministry a week and a half before the decision on the Act, we were
informed that the Standing Committee on Health and Social Affairs had demanded
a more stringent treatment of the issue of pain relief and was therefore going
to propose that they disregard the Government’s views on this issue.
So,
confronted with that fact, the Riksdag decided that an exemption could be given
to persons who were not physicians to circumcise a boy who was 2 months and
younger. However, in the presence of physician who is to administer an analgesic.
The
matter is now at the National Board of Health and Welfare where the regulations
are to be formulated. Thee will constitute the guidelines for implementation
of the Act on Circumcision. The Act is to be evaluated in four years. We know
that there are strong forces in Sweden that want a complete prohibition of male
circumcision undertaken for religious reasons. We have four years to convince
society that male circumcision must be permitted. It is a question of freedom
of religion. The struggle and discussion must be continued, and not just by
the leadership of the congregation, but also by all people who care about freedom
of religion in this country.
Otherwise,
we can be on a very dangerous road. We should be aware that the world’s Jews
are following this issue with great concern and commitment. Let us continue
to write letters to the press, and discussion articles, to inform and get the
Swedish people to understand, including MPs, that the issue of circumcision
is not just a medical issue, although there are clear medical benefits, but
in the first place a matter of freedom of religion.
Philip
Spectre, rabbi of the Great Synagogue of Stockholm:
The
following is a brief history of what has happened here in Sweden concerning
circumcision during the last months and what you might do to help our situation.
A
governmental committee suggested that circumcision be accompanied by “an appropriate
palliative” administered to the child. Since it did not outlaw a mohel nor did
it require intrusive anesthesia, the Jewish Community of Sweden believed that,
if passed, it might be possible to live with such a pronouncement. That is, a palliative salve or even the
calming effect of a bit of sugar water or diluted wine could be administered
by a mohel. Nevertheless, the committee
was told, that any restrictive law was not what the Jewish community had wished
for nor would it be calmly accepted. We were, however, given to understand
that because of a tragedy following one Muslim ritual circumcision in Sweden,
it was felt that some legal restraint needed to be enacted.
From
that governmental committee the law went to parliament for final vote into law.
It was there that a very unusual and unprecedented event took place. Since the parliament was not well informed
(for example, they may not have known that no complications nor, G-d forbid,
infant deaths had ever taken place in the Jewish Community of Sweden as a result
of circumcision), the recommendation of the committee of public health and social
welfare was rewritten. Now the
law states that “analgesic” (note the word “appropriate” was stricken out) must
be given to the child while a nurse or doctor are in attendance. We are presently
waiting for the health department to give its interpretation of the law. We
hope this spelling out of the intent of the law will be general enough and not
require intrusive anesthesia.
The
Swedish Jewish Community and its elected president, Lena Posner Körösi, have
been proactive throughout this very tense period. Both she and our local Mohel, Cantor Maynard
Gerber have attended meetings and consultations with government authorities,
medical professionals and legal experts. It has also been emphatically stated to
the authorities that this is the first anti-circumcision law to be suggested
anywhere in the world since the time of the Nazis. Those in favor of this law demure that
they are only attempting to comply with the United Nations’ child rights pronouncements
in order to avoid any action taken without a child’s consent.
This is not true as has been repeatedly stated to the authorities.
The
Jewish Community of Sweden is, indeed, upset by this unusual turn of events.
At the recent congress of the European Jewish Communities held in Madrid,
the following resolution, orchestrated by the President of the Swedish Jewish
Community, was unanimously passed:
(See
supplement: Swedish
Resolution – Adopted during the GA of European Jewry).
We
appeal to all concerned people to subscribe to this resolution and respond in
a positive and informed manner. Though the law has been passed and will be enacted
at least for a four-year trial period, much depends upon how the wording is
interpreted and that, in turn, can be influenced by world public opinion. Please
address your supporting statements to:
The
National Board of Health & Welfare
Åke
Gustavsson, chairman
ake.gustavsson@riksdagen.se
|
The
National Board of Health & Welfare
Kerstin
Wigzell, executive director
socialstyrelsen@sos.se
|
Standing Committee
on Health & Welfare
Ingrid
Burman, chairman
ingrid.burman@riksdagen.se
|
Swedish
Association of Health Professionals
Eva
Fernvall Markstedt, chairman
mailbox@vardforbundet.se
|
Swedish Medical Association
Anders
Milton, president
info@slf.se
|
Embassy
of Sweden in Tel Aviv
Ambassador
Anders Lidén
ambassaden.tel-aviv@foreign.ministry.se
|
Embassy
of Sweden in Washington DC
Ambassador
Jan Eliasson
ambassaden.washington@foreign.ministry.se
|
Embassy
of Sweden in London
Ambassador
Mats Bergquist
ambassaden.london@foreign.ministry.se
|
Minister
of Health & Social Affairs Lars Engqvist
registrator@social.ministry.se
|
Prime
Minister Göran Persson
registrator@primeminister.ministry.se
|
The
Swedish Parliament
http://www.riksdagen.se/english/services/addresses.asp
|
The
Swedish Government
http://www.sweden.gov.se/
|
Leonard
Book, rabbi of The Jewish Community of Malmö:
I
have written many articles and replied to many letters both private and in the
Swedish press regarding circumcision. The basic facts remain, namely,
- That
the Swedish Government is attempting to remove parental rights and privileges
– this is contrary to the U.N. parental/children’s rights charter.
- Whilst
we are mainly speaking about ‘BRIT MILAH’, the spiritual aspect, they are
more concerned with ‘MILAH’, i.e. the practical aspect. Hence we are not speaking
the same language.
- Brit-Milah
is a non-negotiable part of Judaism. It is of no concern to those who practice
other religions. Circumcision is a Jewish Privilege it is the Covenant
that gives us our identity. Hostility to Jews through the ages has been partly
due to our different practices.
- Circumcision
is neither violent nor barbaric. It is a procedure that is carried out every
day. It is one of the most popular procedures in the world. The press makes
the ‘religious’ circumcision issue highly emotive owing to the sensitive
nature of the area involved. It often prints incorrect information to inflame
the issue. I believe anti-Semitic tendencies lie behind such attacks. There
are many cases of genuine daily violence against children, which the
Swedish press, does not appear to be so concerned about.
- There
is danger that the Swedish circumcision regulations may spread to other countries.
- The
tragedy is that, I, as a Jewish father, could be breaking the Swedish law
by practicing my faith – and that is absurd!
Links
- The
report of the Standing Committee on Health and Welfare (Act promulgated on
June 1st 2001): http://www.jf-stockholm.org/britmila/eng/act.htm
Advocating
Circumcision Today: http://www.act-now.org
Ahavat
Israel – Brit Milah: http://ahavat-israel.com/ahavat/torat/britmila.asp
Ritual
Circumcision: http://circumcision.net/
Circumcision
– A Lifetime of Medical Benefits: http://www.medicirc.org/
International
Circumcision Information Reference Centre: http://www.circinfo.com/
Circumcisioninfo.com:
http://www.circumcisioninfo.com/
SUPPLEMENTS:
Swedish
Resolution – Adopted during the GA of European Jewry
Madrid,
June 3, 2001
At
today’s General Assembly of the European Council of Jewish Communities, attended
by 700 delegates from 39 countries, the following declaration was unanimously
adopted:
We
strongly protest the passing of legislation by the Swedish Parliament on June
1st that seeks to interfere with the religious tradition of circumcision
of newborn Jewish males. Regrettably, this decision was contrary to the Swedish
government’s original proposal.
This
new legislation is totally unacceptable to the Swedish Jewish community and
to the Jewish people as whole and infringes on our fundamental religious rights.
May
we remind the Swedish Parliament that this is the first time since the infamous
laws of Nazi Germany that such legislation has been introduced in any country
in the democratic world.
In
light of Sweden’s long-standing tradition of respect for religious freedom and
tolerance, and given Sweden’s recent laudable initiatives to promote Holocaust
education, we are all the more disturbed by this drastic step taken by the Swedish
Parliament.
We
therefore urge the Swedish Parliament to reconsider its decision.
European
Council of Jewish Communities
Jacob
Cobi Benatoff
President
American
Jewish Committee
B’nai B’rith International
David
Harris
Dan Mariaschin
Executive
Director
Executive Vice President
Council
of European Rabbis
World Jewish Congress
Chief
Rabbi Sitruk
Avi Becker
Director
Statement
by Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron, Chief Rabbi of Israel
B’H,
4 Tamuz 5761 [June 25th 2001]
Re:
Restrictions on brit mila [circumcision] in Sweden
We
deplored hearing about the legislation that places restrictions on brit mila
in Sweden.
The
Chief Rabbinate in Israel has had a special discussion on this question and
decided as follows:
1.
The Israel Chief Rabbinate views with very great concern the restrictions formulated
in the Swedish Act on Circumcision. Brit mila is the primary and most
basic mitzvah (commandment) which the Jewish people have fulfilled for
thousands of years. This mitzvah is carried out with very strict halachic
[Jewish law] considerations for the child’s health and in every generation,
it has been seen that there never existed any problems or risks in carrying
out this mitzvah. It is fundamental in halacha that circumcision
is to take place in the safest conditions and circumstances.
2.
Israel’s Chief Rabbi appeals to the Swedish government to permit Jews to carry
out the commandment on circumcision as it has been done since the days of our
forefather, Abraham, by professional and certified mohalim [approved
Jewish circumcisers] as it is done in the rest of the world.
With
blessings,
Eliyahu
Bakshi-Doron
Chief
Rabbi of Israel
From
Reuters news agency on the statement by the World Jewish Congress
Jews
protest Swedish circumcision restriction
NEW
YORK, June 7 (Reuters)
A
leading Jewish group accused Sweden on Thursday of placing the first legal restriction
on Jewish religious practice in Europe since the Nazi era with a law that affects
how circumcisions are carried out in that country.
The
New York-based World Jewish Congress said that it is receiving many complaints
from European members about a law passed by the Swedish parliament on June 1
that said circumcisions can only be performed after the administering of an
analgesic by a doctor, nurse or person with special permit.
The
law was passed after a circumcision led to the death of a Muslim boy. Both Jews
and Muslims practice circumcision for religious reasons with Jews performing
the rite when the child is eight days old and Muslims when they are considerably
older. About 3,000 boys a year of both religions are circumcised in Sweden,
the WJC said.
A
WJC spokesman said, "This is the first legal restriction placed on a Jewish
rite in Europe since the Nazi era. This new legislation is totally unacceptable
to the Swedish Jewish community." the Swedish Jewish community numbers about
18,500. Jewish circumcisions are performed by a religious official in a religious
ceremony.
The
WJC spokesman added he expected that the issue would be discussed when the Swedish
prime minister visits Israel over the weekend. The law is to take effect on
Oct. 1.
REUTERS
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