Conference of European Rabbis Annual Review 2017-2018 (5777-5778) 23 www.rabbiscer.org Brit milah (circumcision) The Union of Mohalim in Europe was created by the CER in 2013 in order to face the challenge and threats from forces trying to restrict and forbid the fundamental Jewish law and tradition of circumcision. UME is an independent corporation of public law registered in Europe and affiliated with the CER. The main objectives of the union are: 1.  The maintenance of high professional standards of Brit Mila in Europe from a medical, technical as well as halachic perspective. 2.  Offering training, guidance and logistical support to Mohalim in Europe as well as legal information to those travelling in order to perform Brit Mila in other European countries. 3.  Facilitating the placement of Mohalim all over Europe, considering special needs and requests – especially in remote areas and countries without local Mohalim. All our members are properly trained and certified, possess the practical expertise and do also personally fulfill the halachic requirements expected from an expert Mohel. Rabbi Shlomo Hofmeister of Vienna serves as the president of this organisation, and the Halachic authority is the European Beth Din, headed by Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu. The Conference of European Rabbis visits Tunisia Following an invitation from the Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi and the Tourism Minister Salma Elloumi, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, the President of CER, led a delegation of senior Rabbis to discuss interfaith in the Tunisian island of Djerba. During the five-day visit, the delegation discussed recent European attacks on religious practice such as Iceland’s circumcision ban, and met with the Mufti of Tunisia, Usman Battykh as well as other Muslim leaders and senior Government officials. The rabbis also visited Jewish sites of interest in both Djerba and Tunisia, including synagogues and cemeteries. Commenting on the importance of interfaith dialogue, Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt said: “the internet destroys the walls between countries, religions, and the different layers of society. Much more needs to be done to establish other channels of communication and bring together religious leaders internationally. We need to establish a dialogue between Muslims and Jews. And our visit to Tunisia is proof that the Muslim community is also prioritising this.” Today, there are approximately 1,400 people in the Jewish community of Tunisia, and of this number, 1,200 reside on the island of Djerba. Although the numbers were once around 100,000, the remaining community is still developing and the Djerba community has a synagogue a Jewish school. Thanks to this visit, we have the opportunity to thank the Government of Tunisia for their support to the Tunisian community.” The visit was especially poignant at this time of year when it is customary for Jews to travel to the El Ghriba synagogue in Djerba, in remembrance of the great Jewish sages, Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess, and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. Meeting with Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boiko Borisov In 2018, the CER met with Prime Minister Boiko Borisov. Borisov noted that the country had a National Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism. "The feat of the Bulgarians in rescuing the Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust should not be forgotten", Borissov said. Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian government for its support and solidarity that the country extends to the Bulgarian Jewish community. T H E C O N F E R E N C E O F E U R O P E A N R A B B I S V I S I T S T U N I S I A