Euroasian Jewish News

EAJC Rabbi Council Secretary General Rabbi Pinchas Goldshmidt

EAJC Rabbi Council Secretary General Comments New Zealand “schehita” Ban

Pinchas Goldschmidt, the Secretary General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Rabbi Council and the Chairman of the CIS Rabbi Court commented on the New Zealand ban on "schehita" - the Jewish ritual kosher slaughtering method – that has shocked the Jewish community. ";First of all," he noted, "this ban, which doubtlessly violates freedom of religious expression, may cover a significant part of the population, not only covering Jews, but also Muslims. Second, history knows instances of similar laws being accepted – in 1930's Germany. It was usually an indicator of the level of anti-Semitism in a given country. Third, an effect of this decision may be the transformation of New Zealand into a 'terra non-grata' for Jews who keep to tradition."