Where Candidates Stand on Bris

By COLlive reporter

Of all the New York mayoral candidates, only among the Democrats is there support for an age-old Jewish practice that is fiercely being challenged by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg has enforced new regulation that requires a mohel to obtain a signed consent form from a parent to perform metzitzah b’peh, or MBP, in which blood is sucked orally from the circumcision wound.

The City’s Health Department has claimed the procedure carries fatal health risks. The International Bris Association is challenging the claim in the federal second Court of Appeals.

Among the front runner Democrat candidates, only City Comptroller John Liu says he would outright abolish the city’s regulation of the practice, reports The Forward.

Liu recently challenged Bloomberg’s decision telling a Forward reporter that he opposed the signed consent forms and was “not in support of the changes that Mayor Bloomberg made.”

“For thousands of years, this has been a practice that has been observed by people,” Liu said. “As with most procedures, some risk is inherent. But I would certainly defer to the rabbis on this, as opposed to thinking that, well, we know better after thousands of years of this practice.”

Approximately 600,000 Democrats are expected to vote in the primaries. Outside of Manhattan, Jews account for more than 15 percent of the vote, according to The New York Times, and nearly one-third of them are Orthodox Jews.

Democratic candidate Bill Thompson said during a visit to Crown Heights in January 2013: “The government needs to respect the religious beliefs of people.” He said that he was “absolutely willing to sit down and talk” to work out the differences, according to the Forward.

Another Democratic candidate, Erick Salgado, a minister from Staten Island, gave a speech to the Rabbinical Alliance of America and called MBP “a practice that was commanded by G-d,” one that had been practiced “since G-d told Abraham to do so,” the Forward said.

Supporting the regulation against MBP are Speaker of the New York City Council Christine Quinn (D) and Republican candidates Joseph Lhota and John Catsimatidis.

Staying neutral on the subject are New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio (D) and former city councilman Sal Albanese (D). Republicans Adolfo Carrion Jr. and George McDonald have not taken positions.

RELATED ARTICLES:
+ Chief Rabbinate Backs Bris
+ His Honor, Mr. Ignorant
+ Religious Rights Orgs Defend Bris
+ Shliach Being Sued for Simcha
+ Thompson Visit Crown Heights
+ Judge Won’t Block Bris Law
+ Mayor Bloomberg’s Snide Remark
+ Lawsuit Unites Jewish Groups
+ NYC Mohelim Sue Bloomberg
+ Bris Amendment Sparks Outcry
+ Mohalim Voice Their Concerns
+ Parent Accuses City of Cover-up