Jewish circumcision: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Milah barzel.gif|right|thumb|Mohels often use some sort of device to keep the glans from being severed.]]

In Jewish tradition, boys are circumcised on their 8th day of life. The circumcision is conducted by a traditional circumciser called a ''[[mohel]]'' in a ritual known as a ''bris.'' There are three stages in how a traditional Jewish circumcision is performed; these are ''milah'', ''peri'ah'', and ''metsitsah b'peh''.

In Jewish tradition, boys are circumcised on their 8th day of life. The tradition is based on the [[Abrahamic covenant]] found in Genesis 17.<ref name="bigelow1995">{{REFbook

|last=Bigelow

|first=

|init=J

|author-link=Jim Bigelow

|year=1995

|title=The Joy of Uncircumcising

|url=

|work=The Development of Circumcision in Judaism

|editor=

|edition=Second Edition

|volume=

|chapter=Chapter Six

|scope=

|page=

|pages=54-60

|location=Aptos, CA

|publisher=Hourglass

|ISBN=0-934061-22-X

|quote=

|accessdate=2023-08-29

|note=

}}</ref> The circumcision is conducted by a traditional circumciser called a ''[[mohel]]'' in a ritual known as a ''bris.'' There are three stages in how a traditional Jewish circumcision is now performed; these are ''milah'', ''peri'ah'', and ''metsitsah b'peh''.

The Jewish Reform Movement attempted to abolish ritual circumcision in the late 19th Century.<ref>{{REFbook

|last=Romberg

|first=Rosemary

|init=

|author-link=Rosemary_Romberg

|year=2021

|title=Circumcision: The Painful Dilemma

|url=

|work=

|editor=Ulf Dunkel

|edition=Second, Revised

|volume=

|chapter=Circumcision and Judaism

|scope=

|page=107

|pages=

|location=

|publisher=Kindle

|ISBN=23:979-8683021252

|quote=

|accessdate=2023-08-30

|note=

}}</ref>

== Milah ==

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[[Image:After milah.gif|right|thumb|The penis after original milah.]]

The first stage of a ritual circumcision, the initial cut, is called ''milah'' in Hebrew. The Hebrew word for "covenant," is ''brit'' in the Sephardic pronunciation now used in Israel, or ''bris'' in the Ashkenazic pronunciation used over the centuries by European Jews outside of Spain and Portugal, hence the terms ''brit milah,'' or ''bris milah.'' Most Jewish Americans are familiar with the term "bris," as in "They're having the bris tomorrow." The term bris is well known, but few Jews realize that it means "covenant" rather than [[circumcision]].

The first stage of a ritual circumcision, the initial cut, is called ''milah'' in Hebrew. The Hebrew word for "covenant," is ''brit'' in the Sephardic pronunciation now used in [[Israel]], or ''bris'' in the Ashkenazic pronunciation used over the centuries by European Jews outside of Spain and Portugal, hence the terms ''brit milah,'' or ''bris milah.'' Most Jewish Americans are familiar with the term "bris," as in "They're having the bris tomorrow." The term bris is well known, but few Jews realize that it means "covenant" rather than [[circumcision]].

Originally, Jewish circumcision, or "milah" only involved the removal of just the [[acroposthion| tip]] of the [[foreskin]]. This was realized by pulling the loose edge of the foreskin up through a protective device and slicing it off.

Originally, Jewish circumcision, or "milah" only involved the removal of just the [[acroposthion| tip]] of the [[foreskin]]. This was realized by pulling the loose edge of the [[foreskin]] up through a protective device called a ''barzel'' and slicing it off.

The result was a [[penis]] that still retained much of the [[foreskin]], with just the tip of the [[glans]] protruding.

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}}</ref>

This stage of Jewish circumcision was implemented in the 2nd century by hardline rabbis who wanted to make it difficult for Jewish men to [[~~Foreskin restoration~~|restore]].<ref>{{REFbook

This stage of Jewish circumcision was implemented in the 2nd century by hardline rabbis who wanted to make it difficult for Jewish men to [[epispasm|restore]].<ref>{{REFbook

|last=Glick

|first=Leonard B.

Line 96:

Line 142:

|DOI=

|accessdate=2019-11-13

}}</ref> so a modified version of metzitzah b'peh has been introduced, where ~~mohels~~ suck blood through a glass tube, in order to avoid direct contact with the penis.

}}</ref> so a modified version of metzitzah b'peh has been introduced, where ''mohelim'' suck blood through a glass tube, in order to avoid direct contact with the [[penis]].

In 2005, [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/nyregion/26circumcise.html?_r=2 a mohel in New York] was found to have infected three newborns with [[herpes]] via [[metzitzah b'peh]], one of whom subsequently died. The Health Commissioner of the day, Thomas R. Frieden, basically pardoned Yitzchok Fischer, the mohel in question, and no further action was to be done regarding getting Orthodox leaders to abandon metzitzah b'peh. Frieden's open letter to the Jewish community can be read [http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/std/std-bris-commishletter.pdf here].

In 2005, [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/nyregion/26circumcise.html?_r=2 a mohel in New York] was found to have infected three newborns with [[herpes]] via [[metzitzah b'peh]], one of whom subsequently died. The Health Commissioner of the day, Thomas R. Frieden, basically pardoned Yitzchok Fischer, the ''[[mohel]]'' in question, and no further action was to be done regarding getting Orthodox leaders to abandon metzitzah b'peh. Frieden's open letter to the Jewish community can be read [http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/std/std-bris-commishletter.pdf here].

Defenders of metzitzah b'peh say that there is no proof that it spreads disease at all. In Rockland County, where Fischer lives in the Hasidic community of Monsey, he had been barred from performing oral suction, but the state health department retracted a request it had made to him to stop the practice. And in New Jersey, where he has done some of his 12,000 circumcisions, health authorities have been silent.

According to the Fischer's lawyer, there was no "conclusive proof" that he had spread [[herpes]], and that he should be allowed to continue the practice. According to the mohel, the twin who died and the Staten Island boy both had [[herpes]]-like rashes before they were circumcised and were seen by a pediatrician who approved their circumcision (Fischer knew there was a problem and yet he continued?).

According to the Fischer's lawyer, there was no "conclusive proof" that he had spread [[herpes]], and that he should be allowed to continue the practice. According to the ''[[mohel]]'', the twin who died and the Staten Island boy both had [[herpes]]-like rashes before they were [[circumcised]] and were seen by a pediatrician who approved their circumcision (Fischer knew there was a problem and yet he continued?).

== How Jewish and non-Jewish circumcision differ ==

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* [[Epispasm]]

* [[Metzitzah b'peh]]

* [[Pain]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Milah barzel.gif|right|thumb|Mohels often use some sort of device to keep the glans from being severed.]]
-In Jewish tradition, boys are circumcised on their 8th day of life. The circumcision is conducted by a traditional circumciser called a ''[[mohel]]'' in a ritual known as a ''bris.'' There are three stages in how a traditional Jewish circumcision is performed; these are ''milah'', ''peri'ah'', and ''metsitsah b'peh''.
+In Jewish tradition, boys are circumcised on their 8th day of life. The tradition is based on the [[Abrahamic covenant]] found in Genesis 17.<ref name="bigelow1995">{{REFbook
+ |last=Bigelow
+ |first=
+ |init=J
+ |author-link=Jim Bigelow
+ |year=1995
+ |title=The Joy of Uncircumcising
+ |url=
+ |work=The Development of Circumcision in Judaism
+ |editor=
+ |edition=Second Edition
+ |volume=
+ |chapter=Chapter Six
+ |scope=
+ |page=
+ |pages=54-60
+ |location=Aptos, CA
+ |publisher=Hourglass
+ |ISBN=0-934061-22-X
+ |quote=
+ |accessdate=2023-08-29
+ |note=
+}}</ref> The circumcision is conducted by a traditional circumciser called a ''[[mohel]]'' in a ritual known as a ''bris.'' There are three stages in how a traditional Jewish circumcision is now performed; these are ''milah'', ''peri'ah'', and ''metsitsah b'peh''.
+The Jewish Reform Movement attempted to abolish ritual circumcision in the late 19th Century.<ref>{{REFbook
+ |last=Romberg
+ |first=Rosemary
+ |init=
+ |author-link=Rosemary_Romberg
+ |year=2021
+ |title=Circumcision: The Painful Dilemma
+ |url=
+ |work=
+ |editor=Ulf Dunkel
+ |edition=Second, Revised
+ |volume=
+ |chapter=Circumcision and Judaism
+ |scope=
+ |page=107
+ |pages=
+ |location=
+ |publisher=Kindle
+ |ISBN=23:979-8683021252
+ |quote=
+ |accessdate=2023-08-30
+ |note=
+}}</ref>
 == Milah ==
@@ Line 7: / Line 53: @@
 [[Image:After milah.gif|right|thumb|The penis after original milah.]]
-The first stage of a ritual circumcision, the initial cut, is called ''milah'' in Hebrew. The Hebrew word for "covenant," is ''brit'' in the Sephardic pronunciation now used in Israel, or ''bris'' in the Ashkenazic pronunciation used over the centuries by European Jews outside of Spain and Portugal, hence the terms ''brit milah,'' or ''bris milah.'' Most Jewish Americans are familiar with the term "bris," as in "They're having the bris tomorrow." The term bris is well known, but few Jews realize that it means "covenant" rather than [[circumcision]].
+The first stage of a ritual circumcision, the initial cut, is called ''milah'' in Hebrew. The Hebrew word for "covenant," is ''brit'' in the Sephardic pronunciation now used in [[Israel]], or ''bris'' in the Ashkenazic pronunciation used over the centuries by European Jews outside of Spain and Portugal, hence the terms ''brit milah,'' or ''bris milah.'' Most Jewish Americans are familiar with the term "bris," as in "They're having the bris tomorrow." The term bris is well known, but few Jews realize that it means "covenant" rather than [[circumcision]].
-Originally, Jewish circumcision, or "milah" only involved the removal of just the [[acroposthion| tip]] of the [[foreskin]]. This was realized by pulling the loose edge of the foreskin up through a protective device and slicing it off.
+Originally, Jewish circumcision, or "milah" only involved the removal of just the [[acroposthion| tip]] of the [[foreskin]]. This was realized by pulling the loose edge of the [[foreskin]] up through a protective device called a ''barzel'' and slicing it off.
 The result was a [[penis]] that still retained much of the [[foreskin]], with just the tip of the [[glans]] protruding.
@@ Line 28: / Line 74: @@
 }}</ref>
-This stage of Jewish circumcision was implemented in the 2nd century by hardline rabbis who wanted to make it difficult for Jewish men to [[Foreskin restoration|restore]].<ref>{{REFbook
+This stage of Jewish circumcision was implemented in the 2nd century by hardline rabbis who wanted to make it difficult for Jewish men to [[epispasm|restore]].<ref>{{REFbook
   |last=Glick
   |first=Leonard B.
@@ Line 96: / Line 142: @@
   |DOI=
   |accessdate=2019-11-13
-}}</ref> so a modified version of metzitzah b'peh has been introduced, where mohels suck blood through a glass tube, in order to avoid direct contact with the penis.
+}}</ref> so a modified version of metzitzah b'peh has been introduced, where ''mohelim'' suck blood through a glass tube, in order to avoid direct contact with the [[penis]].
-In 2005, [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/nyregion/26circumcise.html?_r=2 a mohel in New York] was found to have infected three newborns with [[herpes]] via [[metzitzah b'peh]], one of whom subsequently died. The Health Commissioner of the day, Thomas R. Frieden, basically pardoned Yitzchok Fischer, the mohel in question, and no further action was to be done regarding getting Orthodox leaders to abandon metzitzah b'peh. Frieden's open letter to the Jewish community can be read [http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/std/std-bris-commishletter.pdf here].
+In 2005, [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/nyregion/26circumcise.html?_r=2 a mohel in New York] was found to have infected three newborns with [[herpes]] via [[metzitzah b'peh]], one of whom subsequently died. The Health Commissioner of the day, Thomas R. Frieden, basically pardoned Yitzchok Fischer, the ''[[mohel]]'' in question, and no further action was to be done regarding getting Orthodox leaders to abandon metzitzah b'peh. Frieden's open letter to the Jewish community can be read [http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/std/std-bris-commishletter.pdf here].
 Defenders of metzitzah b'peh say that there is no proof that it spreads disease at all. In Rockland County, where Fischer lives in the Hasidic community of Monsey, he had been barred from performing oral suction, but the state health department retracted a request it had made to him to stop the practice. And in New Jersey, where he has done some of his 12,000 circumcisions, health authorities have been silent.
-According to the Fischer's lawyer, there was no "conclusive proof" that he had spread [[herpes]], and that he should be allowed to continue the practice. According to the mohel, the twin who died and the Staten Island boy both had [[herpes]]-like rashes before they were circumcised and were seen by a pediatrician who approved their circumcision (Fischer knew there was a problem and yet he continued?).
+According to the Fischer's lawyer, there was no "conclusive proof" that he had spread [[herpes]], and that he should be allowed to continue the practice. According to the ''[[mohel]]'', the twin who died and the Staten Island boy both had [[herpes]]-like rashes before they were [[circumcised]] and were seen by a pediatrician who approved their circumcision (Fischer knew there was a problem and yet he continued?).
 == How Jewish and non-Jewish circumcision differ ==
@@ Line 135: / Line 181: @@
 * [[Epispasm]]
 * [[Metzitzah b'peh]]
+* [[Pain]]
 {{LINKS}}