US Ambassador Bill White Denounces Moshe Friedman as Fraud, Not a Rabbi

Moshe Friedman, a European-based Jew, recently filed a complaint against US President Donald Trump, alleging that a diamond ring gifted to Trump from Antwerp was used to influence a Belgian investigation into circumcision practices. The ring contained 321 diamonds and 75 other gemstones and was presented to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Friedman has previously lodged complaints against mohels in Antwerp, leading to arrests. However, Friedman’s background is controversial; in 2006, he participated in a Tehran conference widely condemned for Holocaust denial and historical distortion, under the auspices of the Iranian regime.

Bill White, the US Ambassador to Belgium, strongly criticized Friedman, emphasizing that Friedman is not a rabbi or an authorized Jewish representative. White urged media, politicians, and government agencies to accurately portray Friedman as an individual activist speaking solely for himself, noting that no recognized Jewish institution in Belgium endorses him. "There is not a single Jew in the beautiful Kingdom of Belgium who has signed his complaint," White stated, recommending that Friedman be dismissed and labeled a fraud.

Supporting this stance, the European Rabbinical Centre (ERC), representing over 800 rabbis and Jewish communities across Europe, issued an official clarification. The ERC confirmed that Friedman is neither a member nor an official of their organization and is not recognized as a rabbi or representative by them or affiliated communities. The ERC stressed that Friedman’s public statements and actions are his alone and do not reflect the views of the ERC or its members. Furthermore, the Central Jewish Consistory of Belgium confirmed that Friedman holds no leadership role within the Orthodox Jewish community in Belgium and is not listed among the country’s officially recognized rabbis or officeholders.