European Rabbis’ President Criticizes Belgium’s Criminal Probe of Jewish Mohels as Religious Persecution

Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, sharply criticized the Belgian government’s handling of the criminal investigation into Jewish mohels in Antwerp. In a special interview with C14, he condemned Belgium for choosing confrontation over dialogue, unlike other European countries that have found ways to regulate religious circumcision without criminalizing it. Goldschmidt described Belgium’s approach as a “war against Judaism” and accused the authorities of persecuting Jews by treating religious circumcision tools as criminal evidence.

Since May 2025, three mohels in Antwerp have been under criminal investigation, with their homes searched and equipment confiscated. Despite nearly a year passing, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Welfare, Frank Vandenbroucke, has not pursued regulatory solutions similar to those in Germany, France, the Netherlands, or the UK. The ongoing probe has caused anxiety among Belgium’s Jewish community of about 40,000 people and strained diplomatic relations, with the U.S. ambassador calling the case "ridiculous and antisemitic."

Goldschmidt suggested the investigation is politically motivated, noting that it coincides with a 2026 reform that restricts public health insurance coverage for circumcision to medically justified cases, excluding religious or cultural reasons. This reform primarily affects Belgium’s large Muslim community but also impacts Jewish families financially. He argued that Vandenbroucke may be using the investigation to demonstrate toughness toward the smaller Jewish community while avoiding backlash from the larger Muslim population.

The rabbi emphasized that Belgium’s legal framework lacks a licensing process for mohels, leaving religious circumcision vulnerable to criminal charges. He called on the Belgian government to establish clear regulations protecting religious freedom, as other European countries have done. Goldschmidt warned that the current ambiguity forces Jewish families to fear police action for practicing a fundamental religious commandment and urged Belgium to end the investigation and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the issue.

The controversy highlights broader tensions over religious rights and state regulation in Belgium, with the Jewish community demanding respect for their religious practices and an end to what they see as discriminatory treatment.