One of the most divisive issues in the Progressive Jewish community at the moment is the issue of circumcision.
In the Torah, the mitzvah (commandment) of circumcision is thus.
| I assign the land you sojourn in to you and your offspring to come, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting holding. I will be their |
Now, there are many discussions regarding whether circumcision is needed any more. We live in a society that is hygienic, with running water and showers and some people question - like the dietary laws - whether this is a mitzvah that was more about battling disease rather than the word of G-d.
Others argue that circumcision of a child to Progressive Jews removes the ability of the child to decide later in life if they wish to be circumcised or not. Others view it as being in direct contradiction of the mitzvah that we are to do no harm against others. If you have ever attended a Briz, the kids screams AINT such a happy occasion.
On a personal level, I'm glad that I'm not circumcised. I like my dick the way it is. Also, when it comes time for me to finally appear before the Beth Din (Jewish Court) I will be arguing very strongly against circumcision. I do not believe that the Progressive movement should enforce this with converts - especially when it carries the potential to drive converts away.
Men are notoriously famous for under reporting health issues, and as such, we have no definitive data regarding the long term side effects of adult circumcision that can include such things as Scar tissue, erectile difficulties, loss of sensation resulting in an inability to reach orgasm etc.
So - what do you all like? Cut or uncut? Do you agree with circumcision? If you're a parent, is your child circumcised and how did you decided whether they would be or not?
I'm keen to hear all your 2 cents so get commenting and let me know.
Cheers all
Damien
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9 comments:
As a mother of two boys I am against it unless it is absolutely medically required. I can't imagine inflicting unnecessary pain upon my children. If they wish to be circumcised, they can decide and act on it themselves as adults. It's not my place to make such a major change to their body without their input or permission.
I wouldn't circumcise my daughter and have no intention of doing it to my sons.
Having said that, my nephew had to be cut when he was about 4 due to medical problems, so sadly, and fortunately rarely it is required.
Sadly, medically mandated circumcisions are necessary when the foreskin is too tight and irretractable over the glans.
Yep. That was it. It was causing repeated infection. From memory steroid creme was used but did nothing. Hopefully our boys won't have a similar problem.
If I were to have a male child I would not have him circumcised. But I have no preference for one over the other.
I'm UNCUT and prefer them that way too! I love nibbling on a bit of nice foreskin
I was circumcised at birth, as a teenager I had horrible problems with painful erections. It was a very tight circumsicision and took years before I grew into it. Until I was in my mid twenties I thought an erection was supposed to hurt. If god made it that way then why on earth would he want it ripped off with a scalpel?
Well Mister Anonymous - if you read the article all the way through and not skim - you'd know that Im a convert and am yet to appear before the Beth Din.
I am a Jew By Choice. Not a born jew - although we believe my great grandmother was jewish - but that is yet to be proved.
Thanks for visiting.... come back again :)
It's really quite simple. A command is a command. The law does not change over time to no longer be significant. An observant Jew must keep all the law. That includes circumcision of males and the dietary laws.
The Christian Apostle, Paul, was a Jew, circumcised on the 8th day, according to the Law. He had been trained in the Law by the great Rabi, Gamaliel. One of his young disciples, Timothy, was a Jew (Jewish mother and Greek father), who lived in the diaspora. Paul circumcised Timothy before taking him along to Jerusalem so that he could participate in the temple rituals as a Jew. Titus, on the other hand, a Greek disciple, was not circumcised for the trip and did not participate in the Jewish traditions.
Clearly, although he was an enlightened Jewish Christian, Paul observed the traditions of his people to the extent that he felt that anyone claiming Jewish heritage must also observe those traditions. However, he did not require the same of non-Jews, because the Christ has freed them from the requirements of the Law.
Where do I start? You are GAY! The Old Testament also prohibits homosexual sex. This same document also requires animal sacrifice while allowing chattel slavery and polygamy. I believe that selecting from its various commands and prohibitions is a fools’ errand.
My family is Jewish; I was raised as a Jew (Bris, Hebrew School, Bar Mitzvah, pre-medical studies, the whole Megillah). I consider myself to be ethnically Jewish. But as an adult, I don’t have to drink the Kool Aid; I get to think for myself.
I want to be respectful of your evolving beliefs, spirituality, and new community. However, I ask you to consider the following: 1) Why does an all-powerful being need us to worship it? 2) Possibly the bible is a human fabrication and not the literal word of god. 3) Either we are all the “children of god” or none of us are, i.e., the Jews are not the chosen people. 4) Much of the worst evil in the world is committed in the name of religion. 5) What would 100 million religious Jews led by the rabbinate look like? Iran.
To answer your question, ritual genital mutilation or amputation (aka circumcision) is repugnant and barbaric. I can tell you from personal experience that circumcision is not hygienic and does not prevent STDs. I am working with a group seeking to outlaw infant circumcision here in the US. Tell that to the Beth Din and tell them that you like dick while you are at it. Good luck.
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