World News-roundup: Mohel banned after partial amputation during circumcision

Country: South Africa

A Johannesburg mohel has been banned from practicing for life after a baby boy’s penis was partially amputated during a circumcision he performed. All other mohels in the country will now need to be accredited and seek registration every two years, South Africa’s chief rabbi Warren Goldstein has said.

Country: Brazil

A pro-Israel rally along Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro drew more than 1,500 Jews and supporters. Flag-waving supporters included evangelical church leaders, who were among special guests.  It was the sixth such November event in Brazil, which is home to 120,000 Jews, a third of them in Rio.

Country: Germany

Anti-Israel activists have been ‘inspecting goods’ in the German town on Bremen, checking to see that products made in Israeli settlements were not labelled ‘Made in Israel.’ The boycotters, dressed in white overalls, inspected stalls, shops and department stores to enforce a European Commission ruling.

Country: Poland

The president of the Polish Jewish umbrella group has waded into domestic politics by joining a protest about the new parliament. Krzysztof Izdebski of the Union of Jewish Communities criticised a lack of transparency, saying: ‘We are opposed to the mode in which Parliament makes decisions.’

Country: Australia

Videos of Hasidic Jews tackling a drunk man have gone viral after he turned up to a synagogue screaming abuse. Police charged the man with one count of theft, one count of criminal damage and two counts of assault after the incident outside Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne last week.

Country: Argentina

A rabbi from Buenos Aires is set to become a minister in the new centre-right Argentine government. Rabbi Sergio Bergman, who is friends with Pope Francis, will be Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development. He is the only rabbi serving as a government minister outside Israel.