Opinion
When were you circumcised?
Dima Motel
Published: 21.01.13, 18:57
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1. Time to replace Rabbanut with Yahadut Kara'it
Eitan ,   California   (01.21.13)
You can't allow a cabal of welfare queens to micro-manage your life! The subjugation of mamzerim, the metaphorical farce of tefillin, the subjective causistry of "Oral Law," and the utter fetishization of religious practice can all be laid squarely at the feet of your rabbinical overlords (namely, Ovadia Yosef, who dresses like Cap'n Crunch). If you want to protest your treatment by the rabbinical "authorities," vote with your mind and your feet, and join a Karaite congregation.
2. America and Israel do not share the same values
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (01.21.13)
"It pains me to see that we, the Jews, are the real racists, fascists and, dare I say, anti-Semites."
3. There will be many posters to this
Runner1983 ,   USA   (01.21.13)
article who will staunchly defend the procedure the author was put through, not wanting to realize that in another time and in another place, as the author points out, similar questions were used to prove an individual was not Jewish. As the saying goes, "There are none so blind as those who REFUSE to see."
4. When were you circumcised?
Ilana Kraus ,   Kfar Sava israel   (01.21.13)
Kol Hakavod. I can't agree with you more.
5. Thank you for speaking up!
Esther ,   Abroad   (01.21.13)
I stopped speaking up while living in Israel, because I was afraid my children would suffer if I did. Besides, when I tried, I was told nobody had asked me to come, so I could just return to the country I came from. Eventually, I - and the family, did. I made aliah in 1994 and at every corner I met the same question - to me or friends that had also made aliah: Was I Jewish? Jewish enough? Really Kosher Jewish? In my teudat zeot it is written that I am Jewish - but there were others in my ulpan that didn't have the same written in theirs. Why? I was shocked! Had anybody outside of Israel asked if a Jew was for example Christian enough to live in a certain neighbourhood, or insisted that his religion was printed in his passport - what would we call that? Anti-Semitism! I made aliah to what I believed to be a good place for my Jewish family. Instead I met a society treating people as 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree citizens. That is counted as a criminal offence in the country where I now live. So I thank you for bringing this to our attention. And - based on your experience, I wonder if my 4 children will ever be married in Israel - I don't speak Yiddish, and I dislike racism - Jewish as well as all racism - and might let that shine through. Anyway - mazal tov! I hope you will have a happy wedding and goodlife together! And thank you for speaking up for all of us!
6. Very good, but why play the Nazi card?
Yitzhak ,   Israel (Tzafon)   (01.21.13)
You were making your point very well, explaining the frustration of a bureacratized and impersonal and thus humiliating process that should be stopped. Then you brought in the Nazi comparison and you lost my sympathy for you. Not the issue, but for you. Why can't we Jews have a disagreement without hurling this disgusting epthet at each other?
7. Welcome to Israel
Mike Carmel ,   Rishon le Zion   (01.21.13)
Indeed an absolutely disgusting obscene medieval process which has no place in the 21st century. This is typical Israel. Racism and chauvinism are alive and well here and it probably won't change. It'll just get worse as those who behave in this way become more and more numerous.
8. Soviet Jews
Roman ,   IL   (01.21.13)
Similar process but not the same extend would be done by any Rabbanut, not just in Israel. Before making Aliyah from US I went to an Orthodox Rabbi whom I knew personally and he was asking pretty similar questions about my parents, their place of birth, their parental and maternal names and the names of my uncles and aunts. Then that Rabbi called my mother on a phone and started talking Yiddish to her. She was taken aback but managed to construct some sentences in Yiddish to satisfy that Rabbi's inquiry... All went well and I have received a letter that this Rabbi can confirm that I was Jewish. I found this process just a bit irritating that my Jewishness should comply and be measured by somebody else's definitions of what it takes to be Jewish. Many Jews in Soviet Union were not allowed to practice their religious believes and now one has to prove that over 70+ years one family was able to retain their Jewishness through pogroms, persecution, Holocaust, isolation and assimilation. I find this process humiliating, and letting Ultra-Orthodox rule the definition of who is Jewish enough on behalf of the State is simply immoral and wrong. Good Job DIMA!
9. rabbinut
Dennis ,   NJ USA   (01.21.13)
Man years ago (32), when I was married as an Oleh in Tveria, i was put through almost the same sort of inquisition process. I resented it, but...realized why they did it: to ensure that the Jewish wedding that they were perfroming was really amongst two Jews. I shrugged it off as part of life in Israel. Didnt get terribly upset, or let it skew my view of the religious community, which includes many wonderful people. Its a matter of outlook. More important issues to get upset about in Israel...
10. Circumcision is racism!!!!!
Avi ,   NYC   (01.21.13)
It amazes me how YNET and secular dibs in general overuse the term racism. In America it gets used ad nauseum but at least we have a multi racial society. Last time I looked, Arabs and Jews were considered to be of similar racial stock. Of course the author likely doesn't want to be confused with the facts. But becoming a normal nation doesn't mean copying another's culture, but rather allowing the evolutionary process take place. The Jewish nation has evolved over millenia and had strict rules. We periodically lose those who are disinterested ie the 50%that became Catholics in Spain or the Jews who in the states that have gentile descendants . Nevertheless we have lived as a nation far longer than all the nations you want to emulate.
11. Ben Ass Hole
Koose E Mack ,   NY NY   (01.21.13)
Steve...no one on this forum cares what you think....you are always quick to attack Jews and anything to do with Israel. Go back to diddling your goats.
12. "we, the Jews, are the real racists, fascists"
American ,   USA   (01.21.13)
This statement can stand alone, it is the absolute truth. Always true with deaing with gentiles.
13. Whose Rabbanut?
David ,   Los Angeles   (01.21.13)
This is why we need to take the Rabbanut out of the hands of Shas and The Haredim and return it to reasonable Rabbis like Rabbi Stav.
14. Not where i lived !
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (01.21.13)
Before making alyah i went to the Charedi community [ there is also an Orthodox one ] in my birth town . They knew my family , so no problems , i received the certificate , in Hebrew . When i arrived at the "misrad hapnim" here , the clerck asked me "what is this" ? You don't need it , but "im yesch kvar , she yihye !
15. #2.. you no more a jew then my dog
JL   (01.21.13)
16. Dima - a different perspective
Jerome ,   AKL   (01.21.13)
How about Jews are leaving for Israel, so that their children and grandchildren marry with other Jews. Think about it... You sell your Porsche in NZ for $60k - you cannot dream of buying one for NIS600k in Israel. You sell your waterfront house for $700k and you'll need 12mil. for the same in Israel. But you want your kids to marry with Jews. If you wanted fake Jews, there are plenty around here and luxury car and houses are quite cheap.
17. Horror story
Glen ,   Tel Aviv   (01.21.13)
Religion has always been about power. Priests have always exerted power by instilling fear, superstition and uncertainty in the ignorant and vulnerable. Where religion has state authority - and indeed immunity - to control civil life, the power just keeps on growing, to become corrupt and evil. I won't even let the b******* bury me - not one of my hard earned gruschim will go into these despicable people's pockets.
18. Newsflash for the modern world
Brian Mcdade ,   Springfield USA   (01.21.13)
All doctors in the United States ask pregnant women for permission to perform a circumcision before Birth..They urge you to permit it for health reasons. I am a Catholic. Its funny that when I was in Israel I was actually asked a few times if I was circumcised when I told people I was a Catholic..In America it is a Health procedure .
19. Were you circumcised
Harold ,   USA   (01.21.13)
A Russian Jewish engineer told me that 33 percent of the USSR Jewish immigrants to Israel were not circumcised and some were circumcised two or three weeks before they boarded the plane to Israel.
20. CIRCUMCISION : NO SKIN OFF
URBAN POET ,   SAFED OPERA HOUSE   (01.21.13)
No skin off my nose..
21. The Jewish State
Zechariah   (01.21.13)
The Jewish state is a small state in area with autonomy for non Jews under iron clad security Defense with the need for stringent security checks which are often intrusive . The Jews are and always will be at war or at ceasefire.The Jews are surrounded six thousand to one that includes Jewish traitors and naive fools.Hard tests are part of the Territory .
22. I AM TWICE CIRCUMCISED
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS ,   SAFED OPERA HOUSE   (01.21.13)
The first time by a mohel ,the second time when I got caught in my zipper...ouch.
23. DIMA MOHEL....LOL HA HA HA
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS ,   SAFED OPERA HOUSE   (01.21.13)
24. lots of non Jews want to be married as Jewish
Larry ,   Los Angeles   (01.21.13)
There are many positive points if they are Jewish, so most non Jews would love to be registered as Jewish. The Rabbanut tries to weed out phonies. That's their job. Embarrassing and degrading? Try going back to Europe during WWII and you will know what is embarrassing and degrading!!
25. When someone asks you when you had your brit, the correct
rachel ,   tel aviv israel   (01.21.13)
answer is: "I don't recall. I was a baby at the time." Don't let your Rabbinate experience spoil your opinion of the entire religion. And mazel tov on your marriage and best of luck on a long and happy life together!
26. It could have been worse
Scarborough1414 ,   Scarborough, Ont. CA   (01.21.13)
They could have ordered you to open your mouth in order to examine your teeth, like a horse! We're not the only ones to do this horse$**t. I've heard of similar humiliating practices among certain Christian groups (not even involving mixed marriages, just among their own!). Space does not permit me to relate the stories, but suffice to say the interrogation was similar to what the rabbis put you through in Israel. I admit the rabbis could be a little more polite (a lot more?) but if we don't try to keep some semblance of order, we'll be marrying Gentiles to other Gentiles and thinking they're Jews, when they're not! But, politeness would be a big improvement.
27. Steve BenASSi - Read This
Seth ,   Washington, DC   (01.21.13)
I just searche and he's old, single, lives in Minnesota and changes bed pans at a senior citizens home. I also saw some of his photos and you'll understand why he's single. Don't be mad at him - feel sorry for this lonely old man with nothing to do in life but attack Israel.
28.  SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES
DA RAP ARTISTE ,   SAFED OPERA HOUSE   (01.21.13)
They ,asked me how I knew that I was a Jew I of course replied something deep inside says I am circumcised smoke gets in your eyes.
29. HELMET OR ANT-EATER ?
DA URBAN RABBI ,   SAFED OPERA HOUSE   (01.21.13)
Cavalier or Roundhead ?
30. WHY DID THE MOHEL RETIRE ?
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS ,   SAFED OPERA HOUSE   (01.21.13)
He just couldn't cut it anymore...
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