Update on the Jewish Intactivist Movement in Israel

Article here. Excerpt:

'Kahal, a community group for Israeli parents with intact sons is active and counts thousands of Israeli Jews among it’s members.

Intactivism—the movement to end circumcision—continues to win social acceptance worldwide, including in the Jewish state of Israel. Jews in the holy land are increasingly open to questioning circumcision, much more so than in the United States. In recent years, Jewish Intactivists have published articles and essays in some of Israel’s largest papers including Haaretz (Israel’s largest and most influential daily paper), 927mag, and the Jerusalem Post. A variety of active Intactivist groups such as Gonnen (Protect the Child), The Israeli Organization Against Genital Mutilation/Intact Son, and Kahal (a community group for parents of intact sons) have sprung up. The leaders of Kahal say that thousands of Israeli Jews are choosing to keep their sons intact.

We are Jews who are proud of our heritage and religion, and who see a need to make adjustments to protect the well-being of babies. Judaism is a religion of constant evolution and ethical advancement. Early in Judaism animal sacrifice was abandoned, and Rabbis chose to abolish capital punishment. Many Jews and Israelis recognize that it is time that circumcision shift into a symbolic ritual such as the well-popularized Brit Shalom. Over 100 Rabbis are willing to do a Bris ceremony without circumcision, and this includes some Rabbis in Israel.'