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: Thats what we do: Were Jews! But doubts about whether the surgery was medically necessary and concern over his wifes opposition forced Wallach to confront some questions.
Can you be Jewish without Judaisms 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, wouldnt be impressed by the desire to do something simply for traditions sake.
I wasnt 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 Judaisms core rite. The Bible says an adult Abraham circumcised himself to mark the covenant between him, his descendants and God. Any male who doesnt 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 boys life...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
>>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.<<
I might add:
Never serve calamari at a Bris.
But they are supposed to follow the Talmut.
ROTFLMAO! Getting old is messy. The answer is to sit to pee, but no real man will do that.
Let’s see them write an article regarding muslim (lower case m on purpose) circumcision.
Dumb, just plain dumb.
What’s old is new again. Ahab and Jezebel, assimilated ancient Greek Jews, assimilated ancient Roman Jews, assimilated 19th century German Jews, etc., etc.; all protested the “barbaric” practice. Yawn.
I vote salami for the body and bourbon for the blood.
Why not? The destruction of the temple ended the Jewish religion anyway.
That seems pretty straightforward, right from the mouth of G-d.
Of course, the words "shall not be infringed" have been misinterpreted, too.
Yes I recall Alinsky. At first blush I was impressed with his cleverness. Which he had. But later I came to realize just how arrogant and aggressive his tactics are. Based most on threats and intimidation not discourse dialogue or building consensus. Also he was ready to lie to get anything he wanted. His protege appears to have learned well. Alas.
Jesus took Genesis literally. Good enough for me.
Maybe in Somalia or in the slums of India a foreskin is ‘unhealthy’ but not here in America where good personal hygiene is practiced. Welcoming a baby boy into the world by cutting part of his penis off is criminal in my view. It’s there for a few reasons, one of which is to enhance pleasure and also to ensure a more successful conception.
It can be tougher for adults, although it sounds like you had bad luck. But it’s normally nothing much for babies.
Read his post again. :-)
“Circumcision will be demonized as it is a religious practice.”
And, like Kosher food rules, circumcision is also practiced by Muslims. Will the WaPo wander down to their local Mosque and inquire of the Imam as to his views on this subject?
Apostasy is nothing new to Judaism.
Maccabees anyone?
The mohels I've known are Jewish MD's who have received additional training in the Jewish ritual aspects.
Sorry, I missed the satire.
Yawn. Another lib hit piece on circumcision.
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