Circumcision: Joining the Covenantby Miriam Metzinger | More from this Blogger 21 Jan 2007 10:38 PM Abraham, the first Jew, was the first human being to practice circumcision. Since then, circumcision has been a ritual that brings Jewish babies into the covenant with G-d. In fact, the Hebrew name for circumcision, or brit, is the same word for covenant. In Soviet Russia, where all Jewish rituals were outlawed, and in concentration camps during the Holocaust, there were many who risked their lives to bring their sons into the covenant, and in spite of many who disapprove of the custom, the number of Jews seeking kosher circumcision for themselves and for their infant sons in increasing. Circumcision is performed on an 8 day old infant, provided that he is healthy, and on males who are converting to Judaism. For those who are already circumcised, a drop of blood is taken from the penis prior to the conversion. There are many myths concerning circumcision: 1. Ritual circumcision is inhumane. Circumcisions, when performed by a mohel, or a person who performs circumcisions according to Jewish law, take only 15 seconds for an infant. The blade is quite sharp and the procedure is done quickly to minimize the pain. Circumcisions performed in the hospital require clamps which can be painful. This is one reason why many people prefer ritual circumcision to a hospital procedure. 2. A Hospital Circumcision is Kosher. There are two phases involved in kosher circumcisions, and hospital procedures do not completely remove the foreskin in a way prescribed by Jewish law. Jews who have had a hospital circumcision should consult a rabbi about what to do. Correcting a circumcision involves the application of local anesthetic and is painless. 3. Circumcision makes one more vulnerable to infection. In fact, it has been shown that circumcision makes one 50% less likely to contract HIV. In Africa, many leaders are consulting Jewish experts to make circumcision more widespread as a preventative measure against HIV infection. For more information, e-mail info@brityy.org or call toll free 1 877 BRIT MILA This organization performs free circumcisions for Jews worldwide. Related Articles: Circumcision care Learn more about Miriam Metzinger  Miriam is a freelance writer, a work-at-home mom and lives in Jerusalem with her two sons, Schneur Zalman (3), Yosef Yitzchak (6 months and counting) and her husband, Yehoshua, who is a rabbi and i... Relevantjewish tags User Comments  TLCTugger (15) 22 Jan 2007 10:54 PMThere are many obvious truths about circumcision: 1. Ritual circumcision is inhumane. By taking normal, healthy, valuable erogenous tissue from an unconsenting minor, you rob him of human dignity and the basic human right to bodily integrity (thou shall not steal). It is painful and risky, and 100% of circumcised male suffer loss of about half of their sensual nerve endings, and the exquisite natural frictionless rolling/gliding mode of stimulation. 2. Many Jews are now opting for a bloodless joyous naming ceremony. You can learn about Brit Shalom at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brit_shalom 3. Circumcision does not prevent AIDS. In Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Malawi, the circumcised have a higher HIV prevalence than the intact. 450,000 American men who were circumcised at birth have died of AIDS. HIV is even more rare in non-cutting Japan than it is in 95%-cut Israel. NO MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IN THE WORLD recommends routine infant circumcision. In fact, outside the US, most roundly condemn it. For example the RACP (Australia and New Zealand) says today: "After extensive review of the literature the RACP reaffirms that THERE IS NO MEDICAL INDICATION FOR ROUTINE INFANT CIRCUMCISION" (emphasis theirs). At a recent conference of intactivists (those who oppose circumcision) in Seattle, about 10% of those in attendance were Jewish even though Jews are only 2% - 3% of the population. See http://JewsAgainstCircumcision.org to learn why many place blood rituals alongside stonings as something we can learn to live without.  Miriam Metzinger (174) 23 Jan 2007 09:07 PMTLC Tugger: Thank you for your comment. I have some comments to add 1) The commandment Thou Shalt Not Steal does not apply to circumcision because G-d himself is asking for the circumcision. Is it "stealing" for G-d to ask us to give 10% of our income to charity? As for human dignity and pleasure, I think that if circumcision really diminished libido, you would find no adultery or promiscuity among circumcised men (which is false) 2. Even though there are Jews who oppose circumcision, this doesn't prove anything. The existence of Republicans does not mean that Democrats should not exist. 3. Circumcision may reduce a person's sensitivity to infection, but ultimately, sexual activity is responsible for AIDS. I should have made this clearer in my article. 4. Okay, Doctors say you don't need circumcision. And in my mind, routine hospital circumcision should be eliminated in favor of ritual circumcision for those who want it. Thanks again for your input Community Tags cicumcision, covenant, jewish Discuss this article
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