THE body which represents Jews in the UK has welcomed the findings of an inquest into the death of a baby who died shortly after his circumcision.

Amitai Moshe collapse more than 35 minutes after he underwent the traditional procedure, and died in hospital aged just two-weeks-old.

Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies, said today the coroner ruling out a link between the circumcision procedure, known as a Brit Milah, and the baby's death came as no surprise.

He said: “Throughout, we have had confidence that the inquest would find that the practices of Brit Milah in Great Britain, as regulated by the Initiation Society, are of the highest possible standards.

“Thus it came as no surprise that the coroner accepted that the mohel had performed the circumcision with the greatest possible care.”

Coroner Andrew Walker ruled today that Amitai, who collapsed while in his mother's arms in the Golders Green Synagogue, died from sudden infant death syndrome, commonly known as cot death.

Initial speculation after the death, in February 2007, centred around theories the circumcision had contributed the death of baby Amitai.

But Professor Peter Fleming, a world-renowned specialist in neonatal physiology, told the inquest at Hornsey Coroners Court he did not believe there could have been a link.

He said while it may be possible for a painful procedure to cause a collapse, the effects would be immediate and could have happened more than 35 minutes after the circumcision, as was the case for Amitai.

Mr Benjamin added: “The Board has expressed its deepest sympathies to the Moshe family on the tragic death of Amitai.

“We appreciate how difficult it must have been for them to relive the circumstances surrounding his death during the inquest this week.

“The Board hopes that this verdict helps to answer some of the questions that have been raised by the family and within the Jewish community about this sad episode.”