Dear Stephen Jerome: maybe you don't know that the single most significant contribution of the Jewish culture was the notion that human existence is driven by a moral purpose that goes beyond the mere physical “pleasures” and 'sensations' you so much venerate.

"...and that this baby wouldn't suffer any permanent damage." Isn't that the purpose of these rituals?

FOOLISH PARENTS

I AM Jewish and not one of my 5 sons have been circumcised. In my lifetime I have known several men and boys that must live their lives with circumcision errors, some requiring repeated corrective surgeries as the child grows. It is not within my rights as a parent to make such a life altering decision for another individual. When my sons are old enough to decide for themselves, should they opt for circumcision, their religion and their religious experience will be more meaningful for them. How can ANYONE say that the pain is far greater for an adult? All of my sons had erections from the time they were born...I have also known adult men that have been circumcised and they are given plenty of pain medication are recover peacefully. Newborns are not given pain relief.

You do know that someone (not me) will add the comment that your sons aren't really Jews 'til they are circumcised?

I'm sorry you can't see the humor in this. It must be awful to be you and have no sense of humor. How sad and boring you must be. I'm having fun and enjoying the articles here. You are the one wasting air on the planet with your boring comments and boring-non personality.

1. Treatment of phimosis, prevention of balanoposthitis, prevention of genital and urinary infection in male infants. This was probably the main reason for its success in ancient Canaan, Egypt and Nubia. 2. Partial prevention of the transmission of STD's from men to women and from women to men, in particular: HSV2 (genital herpes), AIDS, certain strains of HPV, syphilis, chancroid, ... This explains the low incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in Israel in spite of the high degree of promiscuity and unprotected sex consumption in this country. 3. Partial prevention of cancer of the uterine cervix in women. 4. Total prevention of invasive cancer of the penis in men. Of course there is a risk, as in every surgical procedure. In Israel it is estimated that about 1 out of 30,000 circumcisions is not performed correctly and in about 1/300,000 cases this has an effect on the quality of life.

I think this Mohel should be given a job by the Justice Ministry . He would be perfect for dealing with rapists and child molesters!

I'm jewish and my parents thanks to G'd have respected my anatomy, I clean myself right as Daddy told me, and live a jewish life in Israel and have NO PROBLEM AT ALL!

Shocking a disgusting practice and should be outlawed/banned immedietly!

The parents of this poor little boy are fools,I bet they feel stupid now for pushing for a circumcision for an unhealthy infant. I pray for the boy's speedy recovery. As a parent it is your responsibility to safe guard your child, and posponing a brit is no big deal especially if it is due to health reasons. If a few mohels said no because the baby was ill it should have been respected after all they know their work. My son was jaundiced when he was born(in the USA) and the mohel refused to do anything until he was assured by the MD that it was safe to perform the circumcision. I hope that this will seerve as a warning to all parents!

So, besides being a commandment, it has also been found to be a deterrent to getting AIDS. Thus, there is currently a program going on in Africa to circumsize men there.

Chaya, Please tell me you were making a joke of some sort. If not, then you've got to explain to us all how removing a piece of skin from anywhere in your body is going to make you partially immune to HIV. If you want to increase your AIDS resistance, then use a condom. The Africa program probably has more to do with evangelical motivations than with health concerns.

I also saw articles on the net regarding the fact that circumcision deters aids. I think it was on worldnetdaily.com. I do not know why circumcision would prevent aids, or other diseases, maybe because the virus has less places to hide? It's worth googling to find out more about it.

Did this Mohel get paid or did he only take a tip?

It must ba done by a quality mohel one recomended by your rabbi. Mine was boched some 56 years ago and when I pee, unless I put my finger over the hole on the underside of my wang I pee in two dirrections

I am so sorry that this poor child is going to suffer for the rest of his life because of the religious beliefs of his parents. If he chose to be circ'ed as an adult, that would be his right. Instead, the choice was taken from him, and now he has lost a part of the body that belongs only to him. And for the people saying that "they don't cut the penis, just the foreskin," the foreskin IS a part of the penis! It is an important, functional part, not a disposable one. I'm so glad that no one thought any parts of my body were optional when I was a baby.

to the last respondent -what a shame on your parents if you are Jewish & didnt have a Brit Milah

It is impossible to circumcise without cutting off a part of the penis, the foreskin IS a part of the penis. as far as any other pro-circ'ers go, Circumcising an infant is child abuse, and will end. Let the child choose when an adult what will happen to his genitals. For the anti-jewish accusations. I would be anti-sematic if I didn't believe that jewish baby boys deserve the same protection that I believe nonjewish baby boys deserve (intact genitals). I would be anti-semite if I only believed jews shouldn't be allowed to mutilate their children, but it was ok for nonjews to. All infants deserve the protection of the law from having their genitals cut up, regardless of race, religion, political stance, financial situations, gender.

Thanks 'd', I hope your sons aren't ostracised because of this. I don't believe it's necessary in this day and age. Thanks Iony, your parents sounds great! To 10, I'm not a doctor, but I hope one day to be a mother, and I'll probably have sons, so I won't be having them circumcised and they'll still be raised as Jewish. If you have a problem with that, I'm sorry, but really your reply was highly disgusting. Was there any antisemitic insult you didn't manage to include in your reply to me, including your remarks on promiscuity. I don't behave pompous, or ask other Jews to behave like myself and the other Jewish women I know who don't want their sons circumcised, or who have already chosen not to do so. I am not surprised your response was so strong, but I am quite appalled that you think I'd impose my decision on you - you can get your sons circumcised - just don't force me to, that's all I'm saying, and also, don't dare to call me or them, or any other Jewish mother who makes that decision, less than Jewish for not hav ing their sons circumcised.

If I, as a Jewish mother, do get my son (assuming I do have sons and not daughters) circumcised at 8 days old, I believe I AM doing a great injustice - I feel it is a type of mutilation that is not ok. I don't want to mutilate any of my children. As I understood it, Abraham was an ADULT when he was circumcised, not a baby. As I said in my original reply, I want to leave the decision up my son (should I be blessed so) and I would hope that should he decline to be circumcised, that he would not be seen by others to be less than Jewish. I am not convinced about the health issue yet.

Wath if one of your sons ask you : why didn't you make me Jewish ? You can answer him : do it now . But there is a big difference , doing it at a certain age is more painfull , and probably has also psychologic effects . You have to know also , that an uncircumcised man is NOT Jewish , by Halacha , even if he has received a Jewish education . Errors are occuring everywhere , in all the fields . Sometimes with greater damage than in this case .

We live in the US where currently uncircumcised men/boys average 51% of the population and growing. My sons have not been ostracised. When I lived in Israel, I knew Jewish men that were not circumcised. It is probably more common than anyone realizes. Being Jewish or not being Jewish is not a choice my 5 sons nor any Jewish person with a Jewish mother have the luxury to make. My sons will never have the choice to tell a Hitler or other evil entity that they are not Jewish. A person is Jewish if their mother is Jewish, whether they are raised by that mother, whether they know that mother or not. I consulted Rabbis prior to making my decision with my first son. I do not need to prove my commitment to G-d by offering a piece of my son's body up to him. If my sons have such strong faith that they decide to do so, the experience will have far more religious and spiritual meaning for them. The only time a boy is viewed as not Jewish that is not circumcised is when his mother converts to Judaism and he is not circumcised by age 13. If he is, he is viewed as converted along with her, if not, he most go through conversion himself.

This argument is all very well, but based on an inaccurate article. The brit in question was performed, not by a certified mohel, but by the baby's FATHER. This was reported just now on the six oclock news program. Poor idiot parents...... what a terrible thing to have to live with for the rest of their lives.

Explain to me why Jesus was circumcised?????????

It is completely unconscionable to compare doctors making random mistakes (or people having allergic reactions to medications) to circumcision. Presumably, when a doctor makes a mistake, or someone is allergic to medication, they are seeking help for a medical problem. Since when is the foreskin of a penis a medical problem in itself. You mutilate your children for no MEDICAL reason, then I guess you should expect these results every now and again, which is FAR too often even if it's one in a thousand. Circumcisors should be ashamed of themselves.

First of all, I am not christian, nor jewish, so I do not feel the need to explain "why jesus was circumcised" I also do not believe that there is anywhere that states he was, it is just ASSUMED and well, we all know what "assume" does, it makes an A** out of U and ME. M

Before doing this, people should know the origins of this ritual sacrifice. http://home.comcast.net/~consult2/index.html

"What IS important, though, is the recent discovery that circumcision may reduce the chance of contracting HIV... some studies say it reduces the chances by more than 50%... " Gee, then WHY does the USA have a much higher rate of HIV than non-circumcising countries? Time for a reality check!

If so, then WHY does the circumcisng USA have higher or the same rates of all of these problems than intact countries? Time for a reality check!