The Battle Against Legislation Targeting Circumcision and Kosher Slaughter in Europe

Approximately every six months, the standing committee of the Conference of European Rabbis holds a gathering in a European country.

During this conference, rabbis discuss various topics related to European Judaism, such as legislative efforts against circumcision and kosher slaughter. The rabbis meet with Monaco's Prince Albert II, government officials, and community leaders. Additionally, they visit different community institutions and plan to inaugurate a mikveh and hold a memorial ceremony for the Holocaust victims from Monaco, may Hashem avenge their blood.

The gathering occurs against the backdrop of significant global changes, in an era where each country seems interested only in its own welfare, as stated by Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, Moscow's rabbi and president of the committee. According to him, the United States has relinquished its role as the "world's policeman," while Britain has distanced itself from Europe, and Russia seeks a future separate from Europe. Even within Jewish life, each person is absorbed in their own circle. Rabbi Goldschmidt added that it is said about Jacob our father that he did not look left or right, but rather united everyone, which is also the committee's role.

Participants in the conference at the Edmond Safra Synagogue in the Jewish Center of Monte Carlo, Monaco, included: Europe's Chief Rabbi, R' Chanoch HaCohen Ehrentreu; England's Chief Rabbi and co-president of the committee, R' Ephraim Mirvis; the committee's vice president, France's Chief Rabbi, R' Haim Korsia; the head of London's Beth Din, R' Menachem Gelley; heads of the organization 'Chuli'a' through 'Matanel', Mr. Albert and Mrs. Joëlle Aflalo, as well as chief judges and dayanim from many EU countries, such as Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. The committee is held under the auspices of the Jewish Community of Monaco, Monaco's Chief Rabbi, R' Daniel Tordjman, and the committee's council of patrons, led by Mr. Boris Mints.

Before discussions commenced, Rabbi Avichai Apel, Frankfurt's Chief Rabbi and chairman of the German Rabbis Association, delivered a speech of welcome.

At the committee's opening session, there was a discussion on the political situation in Europe. The debate focused on whether Europe's far-right is a partner for dialogue with Jewish communities and whether it is possible, or at all moral, to sit with people whose founders endorsed the destruction of Jews. A discussion was also held on the implications of Britain's exit from the European Union.

Rabbi Goldschmidt reviewed the committee's activities concerning opposition to legislative initiatives against kosher slaughter and circumcision, as well as assisting agunot abroad. According to a proposed legal amendment developed by the rabbinical courts in Israel, these courts would gain jurisdiction over matters involving agunot abroad to combat recalcitrant husbands and free these women from their agunah status.

The chairman of the Rabbis' Union in the U.S. and Canada, R' Aryeh Ralbag, reviewed the establishment of a special court for agunot in Amsterdam. This court will operate under the European Beth Din, chaired by Rabbi Ehrentreu, is recognized by European authorities, and aims to free agunot from their status.

At the conference's outset, a special letter from Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky and Rabbi Edelstein was presented, calling on the committee heads "to increase Torah study... especially in days where some countries attempt to ban slaughter and recently even... to ban circumcision... The rabbis working with the involved parties to strengthen lineage purity through established, essential rabbinical courts, thus preventing breaches in conversion, are doing well."

Additionally, the committee reviewed the relationship between the conference and Israel's leaders, receiving blessings from Rabbi Steinman, Rabbi Kanievsky, and Rabbi Edelstein.

In the first session, there was also an overview of concerns about grave excavations in Vilnius, France, and Belarus, as well as issues surrounding the refusal to renovate the mikveh in Vilnius. The guest of honor for the standing committee, Mr. Paul Parker, chairman of the U.S. Presidential Council for World Heritage Preservation, who assists in preserving Jewish cemeteries worldwide, participated in this session. At the end of the discussion, an agreement was signed between the "Conference of European Rabbis" and the Presidential Council for preserving Jewish graves and historic community institutions in Europe.

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