Couldn't this have been written in a more respectful tone to a tradition that has been around for 3000 years. Especially irksome was the crude headline.

Is this performed at secular Jewish circumcisions?

1. Metzitza b'peh was NEVER forbidden. 2. The deal was made with Satmar, not with the rest of the haredim. 3. The new regulations cannot stop transmission, but they *may* reduce it somewhat. 4. The problem is NOT over. NYC has not yet ruled and, if a baby becomes ill or dies after the new regulations are in force, and if Satmar, et al, do not follow through on their comittments, the "dea" will be broken. Satmar broke a deal with the city over this issue last December, and began secretly negotiating with the state. Earth to Ynet: Hire a NYC-based correspondent, one who is able to cover haredim as well as the wider community.

Either it is secular and not jewish, performed in an hospital... Either it is jewish and religious, performed by a mohel !

barbaric ritual

Whoa, I had no idea this actually took place... quite disgusting if you ask me, but hey, wierder things have happened... For the record though, what is this based on? Why is it done?

surgeons in NYC don't wash hands for six minutes with an alcohol based solution. According to the CDC guidelines alcohol based hand antispetics are to be used according to manufactuers instructions and applied quicker than 6 mins. 6 minutes is for non-alcohol based solutions DUMMIES!!!

Hebrew edition of Ynet? It is extremely important that parents in Israel should be aware of this dangerous custom, which had infected babies with the herpes virus both in New York and in Isarel. Please publish it in Hebrew!

Ezra- It's pretty common to find Mohels in the USA who will circumcise non-Jewish babies.

The suggestion that it has been done this way "for 3000 years" is certainly arguable. The procedures, the tools, and the extent of the removal have all changed over time. Numerous modern Orthodox physicians, medical ethicists and legal authorities have argued against this practice. Yet, once again, the ultra-Orthodox show their disdain for any approach but their own, still confusing tradition with essential Jewish law. I've been to numerous circumcisions among my Sephardic and traditionalist cohorts, and don't recall ever seeing it done this way. That the ultras will fight to continue this practice makes us all look ridiculous.

http://www.vidlit.com/yidlit This is a field?! OY GEVALT!

I guess a real mohel making a circumcison to a goy will not make the cutting according to the very specific way of cutting defined by halakha and will not bless it according to jewish tradition. It is why I still say to Allan a circumcision can be either jewish, either secular, but not both together. Whoever does perform it.

They need to use alcohol first, and then to wash their hands in water for six minutes. Read it again.

what happened to not drinking blood? doesn't that include all lifeblood? why do they suck blood? this is something i have never heard about, and i have read Torah many times.

Why not just wipe it with a piece of linen soaked in antiseptic? That's what the Catholics used to do before they realised it was an abominable practice for any but medical reasons.

I know but headlines aren't usually written for that reason. If, as in this case, the headline horrifies, consider the subject. Oooh , man!

I've heard that American Republicans drink menstrual blood. Can anyone confirm this and state if there are any claimed advantages to health or otherwise?

What is the basis for this? I had never heard of this until now.

Drawing blood through suction is deemed to aid the child and help in reducing pain and increase healing. As noted, most mohelim use a glass tube with some sterile cotton (not a "straw") to perform this. But before this, using the mouth was the accepted practice.

a 3000 year tradition - they still say medical benefit yet the human body has been evolving for a million years UNCIR! a barbaric mutilation similar to female circ..

You guys suck! That all/