City Comptroller John Liu has become one of the most ardent defenders in the Democratic primary of Metzitzah B�peh. �It should be left to the rabbis,� Mr. Liu told Adam Dickter in an interview with The Jewish Week.

Mr. Liu blasted mayor Bloomberg for deciding on the regulation before consulting with the general public. �The Board of Health is not the arbiter of everything right or wrong on an issue like this. They should have done far greater outreach � I said from the get-go this is something I would defer to rabbis about,� he said.

Liu acknowledged that �clearly there is a diversity of opinion here [on the MbP issue]. Some Jews characterize [MbP] as, in their words, �barbaric.� For the Orthodox it�s a very important issue. It has more to do with what extent does government interfere with a practice that has been around for thousands of years.�

Asked who advises him on Jewish issues, Liu mentioned current state Senator Simcha Felder of Brooklyn, whom Liu appointed deputy comptroller in 2009. Adding, �I have my share of rabbis, but I don�t necessarily want to give them up before the election.�

In a recent conversation with YWN, Mr. Felder said he�s not yet supporting any mayoral candidate.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)