Changes

Circumcision, particularly male infant non-therapeutic [[circumcision]] had become entrenched in [[United States of America| American culture]], because of promotion by the [[Circumcision industry]], but now is in a declining pattern. Beginning in the Victorian period, men and children were [[circumcised]] to make [[masturbation]] difficult, because [[masturbation]] was seen as the root of many diseases. Circumcising newborn infants grew into a trend which peaked during the 60's and 70's. Movements to end circumcision began in the late 70's, so the incidence of genital [[intactness ]] has increased significantly. Medicaid unlawfully provides [[third-party payment]] for medically-unnecessary, non-therapeutic circumcision in many states<ref name="adler2011">{{REFjournal

Non-therapeutic [[circumcision]] of boys was a practice in the [[United Kingdom]] prior to about 1948. The National Health Service did not then and does not now offer non-therapeutic [[circumcision]] of boys, <ref name="nhschild">{{REFweb |url=https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/circumcision-in-boys/ |archived= |title=Circumcision in boys |trans-title= |language= |last= |first= |author-link= |publisher=National Health Service |website= |date=2018-11-20 |accessdate=2024-02-06 |format= |quote=}}</ref> so the practice was abandoned. Abandonment of non-therapeutic circumcision was encouraged by [[Douglas Gairdner]] whose landmark 1949 paper pointed out the lack of benefit and risks of non-therapeutic circumcision.<ref>{{GairdnerDM 1949}}</ref> Dave et al. (2003) reported a declining prevalence of circumcision in Britain.<ref name="dave2003">{{REFjournal

Halacha provides for the ceremony of hatifat dam berit (shedding of a token drop of blood) for babies who can not be [[circumcised]] due to health reasons. This is deemed to be completely valid in marking the Covenant. <ref name="Britshalom">{{REFweb |url=http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/ |title=Jews Against Circumcision, Brit Shalom}}</ref>

Modern Jewish scholars have found that [[circumcision]] is not even mentioned in the earliest, “J”, version of Genesis nor the next three rewrites by other authors. Most importantly, the story of Abraham is there in its entirety, except the part about the [[Abrahamic covenant| Covenant]] being “sealed” with circumcision. So do not be afraid of divine punishment. God did not mandate circumcision.<ref name="Britshalom"/> Further, being [[circumcised]] is not a condition of being Jewish. Girls do not need to be [[circumcised ]] to receive the gifts of covenant, i.e., receiving bat-mitzva. A boy is considered to be Jewish if his mother is Jewish from the moment he is born. In fact:

* Since many American Christians practice [[circumcision]], it does not distinguish the Jewish boys from the non-Jewish.<ref name="Britshalom"/> Modern Jewish scholars have found that [[circumcision]] is not even mentioned in the earliest, “J”, version of Genesis nor the next three rewrites by other authors. Most importantly, the story of Abraham is there in its entirety, except the part about the [[Abrahamic covenant| Covenant]] being “sealed” with circumcision. So do not be afraid of divine punishment. God did not mandate circumcision. [[Brit Shalom]] offers an alternative free of cutting, [[pain]], and [[trauma]].