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A Small But Growing Number of Jews Are Questioning The Ancient Ritual of Circumcision
Washington Post ^ | December 29, 2013 | Michelle Boorstein

Posted on 12/29/2013 12:50:16 PM PST by Steelfish

A Small But Growing Number of Jews Are Questioning The Ancient Ritual of Circumcision

By Michelle Boorstein December 28 When his pregnant wife first challenged circumcising their son, Mike Wallach had a gut reaction: “That’s what we do: We’re Jews!” But doubts about whether the surgery was medically necessary and concern over his wife’s opposition forced Wallach to confront some questions.

Can you be Jewish without Judaism’s oldest ritual? he says he asked himself. What does it mean to be Jewish?

Adults attending conversion classes at Sixth and I synagogue learn about the traditions behind the ancient Jewish practice of circumcision. Adults attending conversion classes at Sixth and I synagogue learn about the traditions behind the ancient Jewish practice of circumcision.

Speaking with God, the 37-year-old screenwriter and grandson of Holocaust survivors explained he was using the “free will and brain you gave me” to reject circumcision. God, he concluded, wouldn’t be impressed by the desire to do something simply “for tradition’s sake.”

“I wasn’t at peace until I had that conversation,” said Wallach, who grew up in Northwest Washington and now lives in Brooklyn.

Wallach is among a small but growing number of Jews who are slowly altering what has for millennia been considered perhaps Judaism’s core rite. The Bible says an adult Abraham circumcised himself to mark the covenant between him, his descendants and God. Any male who doesn’t circumcise, God says in Genesis, “that soul will be cut off from its people; he has broken My covenant.”

Many of these Jews, according to rabbis and the ritual circumcisers known as mohels, are rejecting the classic festive circumcision ceremony, called a brit milah, or bris. For thousands of years, Jews have performed the ritual removal of the penile foreskin on the eighth day of a boy’s life...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Judaism; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: agnostics; secularjews
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1 posted on 12/29/2013 12:50:16 PM PST by Steelfish
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To: Steelfish

I don’t have a link handy but I am pretty sure that medical studies show circumcision results in fewer health problems.


2 posted on 12/29/2013 12:52:12 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Fight Tapinophobia in all its forms! Do not submit to arduus privilege.)
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To: freedumb2003

Significantly fewer health problems.


3 posted on 12/29/2013 12:53:13 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Steelfish

More like the Washington comPost wants Jews to abandon circumcision. Looking forward to complementary stories in the Slimes, NPR, All Things Inconsiderate, ...


4 posted on 12/29/2013 12:53:42 PM PST by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
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To: Steelfish

Better tell that to the increasing number of “Jews” in Africa who are getting circumcised to lessen the chance of AIDS transmission. Hmm.


5 posted on 12/29/2013 12:54:08 PM PST by Olog-hai
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To: Steelfish
"God, he concluded, wouldn’t be impressed by the desire to do something simply “for tradition’s sake.”

God instituted circumcision specifically "for tradition's sake" - it was to be a sign of Abraham's covenant with God. Someone needs to actually read his Torah.

6 posted on 12/29/2013 12:55:04 PM PST by circlecity
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To: Steelfish
About time. Hacking off a piece of everybody’s willie seems like a retarded concept to me. But to each his own, I suppose…
7 posted on 12/29/2013 12:58:44 PM PST by cartan
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To: driftdiver

Contra:

http://www.intactamerica.org/resources/decision


8 posted on 12/29/2013 12:59:09 PM PST by Steelfish (ui)
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To: Steelfish

Most of those reasons are pretty weak.


9 posted on 12/29/2013 1:00:31 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Steelfish

Yes, apart from religious reasons, circumcision is definitely healthy. And if practiced on an infant, it’s a pretty minor operation.

I know, you occasionally read a terrible story, but there are probably more deaths every year from electrical sockets, or flies in your soup.


10 posted on 12/29/2013 1:01:12 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Steelfish
Washington Post ^ | December 29, 2013 | Michelle Boorstein
If it's in the Washington comPost, you know it's BS.
11 posted on 12/29/2013 1:01:14 PM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: Cicero

The left is pushing to stop this and many other religious traditions.


12 posted on 12/29/2013 1:03:41 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Cicero

Circumcision is brutal.

I was circumcised, and couldn’t walk for a year!

(I’ll be here all week - try the veal)


13 posted on 12/29/2013 1:03:47 PM PST by PlateOfShrimp
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To: freedumb2003
NYT-August 27, 2012:Benefits of Circumcision Are Said to Outweigh Risks
14 posted on 12/29/2013 1:05:57 PM PST by lbryce (Obama:The Worst is Yet To Come)
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To: freedumb2003

I am not a Jew and I don’t know the rules, but IMO circumcision should be done by a Doctor.

I know as we get older we have a bit of shrinkage of the wedding tackle, and circumcision makes things a little easier to keep from peeing on the walls and floor.


15 posted on 12/29/2013 1:07:39 PM PST by Venturer (Half Staff the Flag of the US for Terrorists.)
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To: Steelfish

They should take it up with God and Abraham.


16 posted on 12/29/2013 1:08:59 PM PST by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: circlecity

>>”God, he concluded, wouldn’t be impressed by the desire to do something simply “for tradition’s sake.”<<

I heard a Rabbi on the radio one time give a great argument. he said “everyone asks me why we keep Kosher when clearly the rules were health rules and are not needed today? My answer is: Because My God told me to.”

So the answer is yes, God wants you to do it because He commanded it.


17 posted on 12/29/2013 1:09:21 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Fight Tapinophobia in all its forms! Do not submit to arduus privilege.)
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To: Steelfish

Yet liposuction and Botox (and breast implants, etc.) will remain popular for the privileged set. Circumcision will be demonized as it is a religious practice. What’s next, praying to God (see Darius the Mede)?


18 posted on 12/29/2013 1:10:58 PM PST by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
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To: Steelfish

Let’s all design our own religions. (Sort of like pelosi and Reid and lots of others these days). I vote for chocolate cake for the Eucharist.


19 posted on 12/29/2013 1:13:17 PM PST by faithhopecharity
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To: Rummyfan

Many Jews don’t take Genesis “literally,” and this applies to many Christians as well.


20 posted on 12/29/2013 1:13:29 PM PST by Steelfish (ui)
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