EJA and Partners Meet with EU Commissioner Várhelyi to Safeguard Jewish Practices in Europe

European Jewish Association Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin: “A terror attack against terrorists? The Deputy Prime Minister has lost her moral compass.”

(Brussels, 18 September 2024) Petra De Sutter, the Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, posting on social media said today:

“I strongly condemn the massive terror attack in Lebanon and Syria, which injured thousands of people.”

Her comments drew a swift rebuke from the chairman of the European Jewish Association Rabbi Menachem Margolin, whose organisation represents hundreds of Jewish communities across the continent.

In a statement Rabbi Margolin said:

“Hezbollah and its operatives have been attacking Israel every day, firing hundreds of missiles and drones indiscriminately at civilians.

“Calling the pager operation a terror attack is the world upside down.

“The Deputy Prime Minister’s social media has failed to even mention the hezbollah missile attack of 12 Israeli Druze children, murdered by a Hezbollah missile in July.

“It has also failed to condemn Hezbollah’s constant missile and drone attacks on Israeli civilians.

Regrettably it is clear that Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister has completely lost her moral compass.”

The EJA warmly thanks Federal Chancellor of Austria, H.E. Sebastian Kurz for His Excellency’s kind wishes to the European Jewry in light of the recent holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders, medical experts and senior EU officials warn Belgium risks setting a dangerous precedent for religious freedom in Europe

Wednesday, June 24, 2026,  The European Jewish Association (EJA) convened an emergency conference in Brussels amid ongoing legal proceedings against Jewish religious circumcision practitioners in Belgium, warning that the case could become a defining test of religious freedom, minority rights and the future of Jewish life across Europe.

At the conference convened with the input and expertise of Belgian MP Michael Freilich, the EJA’s Special Diplomatic Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue and Holocaust Remembrance, the Association unveiled a new position paper setting out the fundamental democratic choice being faced by Belgium: whether a religious practice observed safely by Jewish and Muslim communities for centuries should face criminal prosecution. The physicians and scientists who participated in the conference are clear: there is no evidence of increased harm and the rate of complications associated with ritual circumcision is substantially lower than the rate of complications reported among infants circumcised by physicians in hospital settings.

The paper therefore calls for legal certainty, recognition of trained practitioners, appropriate safeguards and standards, and dialogue rather than criminalisation.

Opening the conference, EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin said:

“This is not really a debate about circumcision. It is a debate about the limits of freedom in Europe. The real question is whether democracies protect minority rights only when they are convenient, or whether they protect them when they are challenged. What happens in Belgium will be watched far beyond Belgium.” He added: “For Jews, circumcision is not simply a medical procedure. It is one of the foundations of Jewish life and identity.

“Decisions on circumcision are being taken, without the facts, without proper discussion and without the proper weighing of the evidence of what is, fundamentally, a minor medical procedure. This conference today seeks to fill this knowledge gap. Above all, governments must be properly informed to protect the right of Jews to live as Jews.”

As part of filling the knowledge gap, the conference heard evidence from leading medical experts challenging claims that religious circumcision constitutes a public health concern. Dr. Michael Ben Akon, Director of Pediatric Department Laniado Hospital, Member of Israel’s Ministry of Health Committee for the Certification of Mohalim noted that an estimated two billion men worldwide have undergone circumcision and pointed to extensive international medical data showing extremely low complication rates. Published literature places overall complication rates at below 0.4%, with infection rates of less than 0.06%. Data presented from Israel showed that among more than 70,000–75,000 circumcisions performed annually, only 35 complications were reported in 2018, representing an incidence rate of approximately 0.5 cases per 1,000 procedures.

Dr. Ben Akon further noted that approximately 70% of circumcisions in Israel are performed by certified religious practitioners, operating within a rigorous training, examination and oversight system jointly supervised by the Chief Rabbinate and the Ministry of Health.

Dr Barmoshe, a senior urologist in Belgium, and Dr Nuphar Veiga a senior Biomedical expert at Leuven University both highlighted research linking circumcision to significantly lower rates of urinary tract infections, certain cancers and some sexually transmitted infections, arguing that the available evidence does not support the characterization of religious circumcision as a significant public health problem

The significance of the gathering was underscored by a message from European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi, who reaffirmed the European Commission’s commitment to protecting Jewish life and traditions across Europe.“Jewish life belongs in Europe. Jewish tradition belongs in Europe,” Várhelyi wrote in a message to participants.He added that Jewish communities must be able to practice their faith in security, dignity and freedom, with their religious traditions fully respected.

A central feature of the conference was an interfaith panel featuring Dutch Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, Chairman of EJA’s Committee Against Antisemitism, Imam Nordine Taouil, President of RMG Muslim Scholars of Belgium, and Rev. Rik Hoet, Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenical Dialogue and President of the Belgian Catholic Commission for Dialogue with Judaism. Despite representing different faith traditions, all three speakers delivered a united message that circumcision is a core religious practice for both Jewish and Muslim communities and that democratic societies must protect the ability of minorities to practice their faith freely. The panel warned that restricting longstanding religious traditions would set a troubling precedent not only for Jews and Muslims, but for religious freedom and social cohesion across Europe.

The conference also heard from Belgian political and legal figures, including MP Jinnih Beels, constitutional scholar Prof. Rik Torfs, former Antwerp Alderman André Gantman and legal expert Ralph Pais, who argued that the debate should be viewed through the broader framework of constitutional rights and democratic freedoms. Speakers stressed that freedom of religion includes the right to practice one’s faith, that fundamental rights should not be ranked against one another, and that the role of policymakers is to reconcile children’s rights, parental rights and religious freedom rather than treating them as mutually exclusive. Several warned that allowing courts or politicians to redefine essential religious practices would set a dangerous precedent for minority communities throughout Europe.

European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life Katharina von Schnurbein addressing the conference said:

“The European Commission is aware that circumcision is one of the most important traditions for Jews. Banning this ancient practice would in effect ban the possibility of Jewish life to flourish in any member state. We acknowledge the threats and difficult public discussion, and we do not underestimate its effect on European Jews.

“The Commission is aware that B’rith Milah of male babies on the 8th day after birth is central for Jewish communities, regardless of their level of observance, whether religious or secular. In line with the EU strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that Jewish life can continue to flourish in Europe. In fact, Europe can only flourish when it’s Jewish communities flourish, too.”

Participants repeatedly warned that the Belgian proceedings risk transforming a domestic legal case into a European precedent, with implications extending far beyond Belgium’s Jewish and Muslim communities.

Concluding the conference, Rabbi Margolin said:

“Human rights are not tested when they protect the majority. They are tested when they protect minorities. When the protection of one minority is weakened, the protections enjoyed by all minorities become less secure. The question facing Belgium today is not what kind of Jews can live in Europe. The question is what kind of Europe Europe wants to be.”

More information for your review : 

EJA Factsheet on Circumcision

Policy Paper on Circumcision in English

Policy Paper on Circumcision NL

Policy Paper on Circumcision FR

Link to the video of the live stream: