Vienna – Religious Circumcision Gets Green Light In Western Austria

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    A letter written by Justice Minister Beatrix Karl was released this afternoon, informing doctors that they will not face criminal charges for performing religious circumcisions. Photo: Michaela BruckbergerVienna – A decision to suspend circumcision in the Austrian province of Vorarlberg except when required for health reasons was reversed today by Austria’s Justice Ministry.

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    The ruling was protested by a group of religious leaders in Austria representing the county’s Jewish, Muslin, Catholic and Protestant citizens who challenged its legality.

    A letter written by Justice Minister Beatrix Karl was released this afternoon, informing doctors that they will not face criminal charges for performing religious circumcisions saying, “We only wanted to get legal certainty for doctors so they can be clear whether they face legal consequences if they perform circumcisions for religious reasons.”

    A spokesman for the justice minister told Reuters that the ruling gave doctors the authority to decide if they wanted to perform circumcisions, a procedure not covered by the public health system.

    Austria is currently home to 9,000 Jews and half a million Muslims.


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    9 Comments
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    alterknaker
    alterknaker
    11 years ago

    What the austrians can aprove,in the so called malchus she’ll chesed of america is banned, shame on you america,

    Wise-Guy
    Wise-Guy
    11 years ago

    On the one hand, this is good news.
    On the other hand, I pity a Jewish child that has his Bris performed by a Gentile, or non-religious, doctor.
    A Bris should be done by a Jew that is Shomer-Torah U’Mitzvos.
    And the more Yiras-Shomayim he has the better.

    I learned that An “Ehrliche Yid” Mohel has a beneficial spiritual effect on the child.

    This is somewhat similar to choosing a Shochet who has great Yiras-Shomayim.

    Of course, the Mohel should also be an expert. And healthy.

    Yes, I know that it’s basically impossible to judge the level of a person’s fear-of-heaven.
    But there are tell-tale signs…
    i.e.
    If the Mohel spends his time in Casinos … Uh Uh.
    If he’s spending his available time learning and doing Chessed … Uh Huh.

    sissel613
    sissel613
    11 years ago

    well folks, some people like #1 doesn’t know his/her facts. He is getting confused with our darling mayor who is questioning metzizah bapeh just like he is getting himself involved with a mother’s right to nurse or not.

    11 years ago

    In defense of #1 some say if the מציצה /meziza was not done (appropriately) than the whole mila is in question!

    כתב המהרי״ל דיסקין זצוק׳׳ל אב״ד בריסק הובא בשד”ח וז״ל: בדבר המציצה כשיבא אליהו ‘אולי’ ימצא לטהר את הנמולים שלהם שיהי׳ מותרין לאכול הפסח עכ״ל. פי׳ שאלו שלא נעשה מציצה (כראוי) רק אלי׳ ‘אולי’ יטהרם ויכריע אס דינם כאלו אינם נמולים כהונן ואסורין בקרבן פםח או לאו.

    כתב הרמב”ם בפ”ב מהל` מילה ה”ב ואח”כ מוצץ את המילה עד שיצא הדם ממקומות רחוקים כדי שלא יבא לידי סכנה וכל מי שאינו מוצץ (כראוי)מעבירין אותו עכ”ל

    כתב הרמב”ם בפ”ב מהל` מילה ה”ב ואח”כ מוצץ את המילה עד שיצא הדם ממקומות רחוקים כדי שלא יבא לידי סכנה וכל מי שאינו מוצץ מעבירין אותו עכ”ל