Introduction
Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Friedman is one of the most debated figures in contemporary European Judaism. Coming from the Haredi world, known for his anti-Zionist positions and for his battles against certain traditional practices he considers harmful, Friedman presents himself today as a “traditionalist and modern” rabbi focused on well-being and ethical responsibility.
In this interview, he addresses sensitive topics: metzitzah b’peh, rabbinic legitimacy, the relationship between Jewish identity and the State of Israel, and the future of Judaism in Europe.
Tradition and health risks
Q. You have publicly criticized metzitzah b’peh, the oral suction during circumcision, still considered essential in some Haredi circles. How do you reconcile this stance with your traditionalist background?
A. Rabbi Friedman:
“For me, as a traditionalist, Jewish faith and tradition are important. But the Talmud does not mention oral suction at all: it is a later addition, created to show that Jews would be ‘above’ law and nature — a drift that opens the way to viewing others as Untermenschen.
Learning that already 150 years ago many babies were infected with herpes during this practice deeply shocked me. There is neither a religious nor a cultural reason to continue it.”
Evidence, responsibility, and communal silence
Q. You described metzitzah b’peh as a practice that “endangers children’s lives for no reason.” What evidence have you gathered in Belgium, and how do you assess the reaction of institutions and rabbis in Antwerp?
A. Rabbi Friedman:
“Herpes infections can be serious, but HIV is even more devastating — and cases of this kind took place in Antwerp. No Jew dared react, out of fear of fueling antisemitism. As a rabbi and as a human being, I cannot accept covering up a threat to the health of newborns.”
Rabbinic legitimacy and personal identity
Q. Some Jewish communities have questioned your rabbinic ordination and your official status in Belgium. How do you respond?
A. Rabbi Friedman:
“I successfully completed all the courses required to become a rabbi. My legitimacy was challenged by only one person — a rabbi who left behind a legacy comparable to Epstein’s, someone convicted multiple times for other offenses. The criticism has no basis.”
Anti-Zionism, Jewishness, and the Israeli question
Q. You are known for your anti-Zionist positions and for attending the 2006 Tehran conference. How do you define today the relationship between Jewish identity, nationalism, and the State of Israel?
A. Rabbi Friedman:
“I am a Jew by birth and a rabbi by conviction. This implies respectful and responsible behavior toward all human beings, regardless of religion or nationality. Having once been victims does not exempt us Jews from following international laws, especially in the Middle East.”
Reforming Jewish tradition in Europe
Q. After your denunciations of mohelim in Belgium and your criticism of certain ritual practices, what model do you propose for a ‘renewed’ Judaism in Europe? Is such reform compatible with Haredi values?
A. Rabbi Friedman:
“We live on a continent with a complex history — antisemitism, slavery, totalitarianism, wars — illustrated very well by the House of European History in Brussels. The EU has overcome these dark periods by creating a space grounded in shared values.
European Jews, of all denominations, must ask themselves how to integrate into this increasingly humanistic reality. For all religions, this means two things: abandoning radical tendencies and stopping the belief in post-truth interpretations of our holy books.”
