2 Babies Get Herpes After Jewish Circumcision Ritual

Newser ^ | July 29, 2014 | Elizabeth Armstrong Moore

[Steelfish]

2 Babies Get Herpes After Jewish Circumcision Ritual ANCIENT RITUAL INVOLVES SUCKING BLOOD FROM WOUND, SPITTING IT ASIDE

By Elizabeth Armstrong Moore, Newser Staff Posted Jul 29, 2014 (NEWSER) – An ancient and now rare type of circumcision called metzitzah b'peh, which is sometimes performed by Orthodox Jews on newborn boys, appears to be behind the spread of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to two newborns in New York this month. Both boys were born to mothers who carried full-term and had normal deliveries, reports WNBC-TV. During the ritual, however, the person doing the circumcision uses direct oral suction in an attempt to cleanse the wound, sucking and spitting aside the blood, and the saliva contact can transmit the infection.

More than half of American adults have HSV-1, according to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the most common symptom being oral lesions

[GeronL]

ANCIENT RITUAL INVOLVES SUCKING BLOOD FROM WOUND, SPITTING IT ASIDE

If that is true, that is just disgusting on many levels

[Olog-hai]

The libs’ favorite anti-Jew story. Figured this would show up again with the whole Gaza hype.

[crazyhorse691]

May I ask what the purpose of posting this article is?

[Steelfish]

When religious practice and health issues collide. Religious rituals and health concerns are not unlike Jehovah’s witnesses who refuse to have kids inoculated.

[ClaytonP]

May I ask what the purpose of posting this article is?

What is the purpose of your post exactly?

[Vendome]

No skin off my back.

Still, that little bit had to suck.

You would think, in this day and age, there would be some circumcision about this procedure.

[crazyhorse691]

Since my post was not to you... butt out.

[ClaytonP]

Since my post was not to you... butt out.

No I won't.

It was a public post, if you wanted to keep it private you should have sent a mail.

[crazyhorse691]

OK, I can accept that.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Look, this article does not influence me against Jews in the slightest - I continue to admire the value the Jewish community has always placed on good education and strong families, and I continue to believe Israel deserves every bit of support the US can give it.

That said, every group/religion/society formed by people always has a few members who embarrass the rest. This custom is disgusting and the small sect which practices it must be forced to abandon it immediately. Religion is not an excuse to subject children to practices that would be deemed sexual abuse of a child under any other circumstance.

[crazyhorse691]

Public, private my post was not to you my King. If he needed your help I am sure he would have called on you first. Get over yourself newbie.

[ClaytonP]

Public, private my post was not to you my King. If he needed your help I am sure he would have called on you first. Get over yourself newbie.

I can respond to any public post I like. Thank You.

[crazyhorse691]

You are welcome.

[stormer]

Well that’s a relief, cause I was worried...

[crazyhorse691]

You too? LOL

[hamboy]

My son not circumcised yet because hospital where he was born is anti circumcision. As tradition every male in the family are circumcised. I called around clinics in Los Angeles area that’d do circumcision, it’s very unaffordable: an urologist would first need to examine him then another doctor to do the procedure; it will cost at least $3,000 all in all. I think they really discourage people to have their males circumcised.

[Yaelle]

I am a Jew and utterly disgusted by this practice

It’s not in the Torah. It’s just a small minded custom that has nothing to do with Judaism. I wouldn’t marry a man who wanted that for his son.

[hamboy]

You’re kidding, right?