The Circumcision Referendum: More American Jews are Becoming Intactivists

From Marc A.:

Interesting quotes from intactivist rabbis and other Jews. Sample from Rabbi Binyamin Biber:

"We're seeing [circumcision's] decline, and we're seeing Rabbi's like me and others in other communities saying these practices are not warranted and we're seeing a generational shift away from them. One of the things that I think that's also critical is the growing popularity, and I think a rightful popularity of natural medicine and natural childbirth ideas. And I think that this is clearly seen as inconsistent - not consistent with natural childbirth, natural health. ... Inflicting a wound on an infant is clearly not one of those....“

And from another rabbi:
"The code of the Jewish law is called "halacha" (the way). Within the Code, there is a provision that if a mother loses a son because of circumcision, she is NOT obligated to circumcise her next son. I extrapolate from this, the inter-connection of my human family, that enough deaths and maiming have occurred because of circumcision. Therefore - circumcision is no longer a requisite! Just as we no longer practice the animal sacrifices in the traditional temple, so let us not sacrifice an important piece of our mammal in the temple of tradition."
- Rabbi Nathan Segal, One Rabbis' Thoughts on Circumcision

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Comments

Why must only the prepuce of a male infant be sacrificed? Why not a lock of hair? That is part of the infant's body? And there is zero chance of serious infection to the infant. I like the idea that circumcision is inflicting a wound on a newborn as a reason to fore go it.

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I'm surprised there are no comments about how the part of bible that requires this is dated, as it also requires people to make animal sacrifices on a regular basis, in which the animals must be slaughtered in a specific way. Factor in the fact that we don't live in the desert, and circumcision seems pretty unnecessary.

Evan AKA X-TRNL
Real Men Don't Take Abuse!

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