Brussels-based center trains mohelim as Belgium circumcision debate intensifies

A new Brussels center is seeking to answer Europe’s circumcision debate with medical certification rather than political argument.

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ensuring their competence is recognized through rigorous medical standards and independent supervision, rather than becoming a matter of political debate.

The European Jewish Association and the Rabbinical Center of Europe have launched what they describe as likely the first comprehensive medical and professional certification program for Jewish circumcision practitioners outside Israel. The Center of Excellence for Religious Male Circumcision will train and assess already-qualified mohelim, who perform Brit Milah.

The program will cover newborn assessment, hygiene, infection prevention, infant welfare, bleeding and wound care, emergency response, basic life support, referral and aftercare. Urologists, pediatricians, physicians and medical scientists from Belgium, Britain, Israel, Italy and Germany will oversee the work. A Medical and Scientific Council will review the center’s clinical protocols, assessments and professional standards.

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Our responsibility is to ensure that longstanding traditions can continue in a framework that meets the highest standards of child welfare, medical safety and professional responsibility, in line with European standards.

The initiative comes as Jewish religious circumcision faces increasing legal and political challenges in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe. Its organizers want health authorities to recognize qualified mohelim through independent supervision and rigorous medical requirements. Rabbi Menachem Margolin, who chairs both organizations, said the response should extend beyond defending religious freedom and focus on child welfare and safety.

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Brit Milah has been at the heart of Jewish life for thousands of years.

European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Oliver Várhelyi welcomed the program. He said religious traditions should continue within a framework meeting high standards for child welfare, medical safety and professional responsibility. The center’s stated aim is to build confidence in practitioners while addressing concerns surrounding the procedure through structured training and oversight.

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Faced with growing challenges to the practice and, in particular, to the ability of trained mohelim to perform it in parts of Europe, we decided that our response must go beyond defending our religious freedom.