There are still mohels who just take the tip of the foreskin off. We are
Messianic Jews and have a mohel come on the 8th day to do it. Two of my
sons have this type of circ and it takes all of 2 minutes.
-D.K.
====
To contact people and info you're looking for try: Jewish Assoc. of CRC, PO
Box 232, Boston, MA 02133, http://www.circumcision.org; or Alternative Bris
Support and Ceremonies, Brooklyn, NY, SAMMOSH@juno.com
-Anon.
====
Please read Questioning Circumcision: A Jewish Perspective, and
Circumcision: the Hidden Trauma by famed Jewish psychologist, Dr. Ronald
Goldman, of Boston. His web site, also very helpful, is
http://www.circumcision.org.
The highest density of nerve endings in the penis is in the "ridged band,"
in exactly the part of the foreskin you propose to cut off. This was
scientifically discovered and first reported in the British Journal of
Urology, Vol. 77, 1996, by medical researchers Taylor, Lockwood, and
Taylor. The article itself can be found on the web at
http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/taylor
No matter what Hal's understanding or misunderstanding of his own religion
may be, he does not have the moral or ethical right to destroy these nerves
given by God to your son. Only your son has that right. Refuse to allow
anyone to sexually mutilate your son for life. Respect his body and mind.
Your son's freedom of religion, and equally important his health, are more
important than placating your husband.
Would either of you allow it if it were your daughter and you were married
to an African who would freak out if you refused [to have her circumcised]?
Stand up equally for your son. When he is 17 he and you will be proud and
happy that you did.
You cannot give informed consent...let your son make it for himself.
Circumcision can always be done later if your son wants to be circumcised
for any reason, religious or otherwise. He can *never* be uncircumcised!
-Van Lewis
====
"Trauma is an emotional shock from an overwhelming event. Certainly, having
part of the penis cut off by force qualifies. The fact that the whole
society participates in perpetuating this trauma requires that people deny
the reality of what is happening."
-Ronald Goldman, Ph.D., Circumcision Resource Center, www.circumcision.org
====
This baby has another parent who is not from a circumcised group. Should
the baby not have the right to resemble his mother's ethnic group?
Especially since circumcision is now known medically as an amputative
injury having life-long ill effects on health, including progressive
desensitization leading to rougher sexual intercourse of a nature that
routinely causes vaginitis.
The "floppy tip" does not exist on the newborn and develops later in life
with normal dilation which occurs over time. The prepuce has not fully
evolved at the time of birth: a tight narrow tube is usual in the neonate.
It contains the greater proportion of ultimately precious specialized
sensory nerves. The "fusion" of the foreskin to the glans is normal too.
Separation occurs naturally over a few years through shedding of cells from
both glans surface and interior mucous membrane lining of the prepuce. When
the foreskin is ripped from the glans before destruction by amputation at
circumcision, often the surface of the glans is sacrificed as well. Chunks
are often torn out of it, the entire surface is torn off and the glans
never develops properly if it is deformed at birth in this way. I hope it
is evident that this is not a humane way to treat the genitalia of anyone
of any age.
It was one of the few things I had the wisdom to set out as a condition of
marriage: that none of our sons would be mutilated. I know my mother's
heart would still be sorrowing now, 32 years since his birth. Often when I
counsel parents thus, I feel they think I am taking their baby's side
against them. But really it is for everyone, parents too, that this
information is crucial. Some of the worst grief I have had to deal with in
my nursing career is from parents who wish they had known enough about
circumcision to say no to doctors who choose to earn their living this way.
-Maurene White
====
A baby born to a non-Jewish mother is not considered Jewish under Halacha
(Jewish Law). While his decision to circumcise a son may be admirable to
some, there is no such thing as a bris milah on a non-Jewish baby. No
respectable mohel would even perform such a procedure. Therefore, the
question of circ. becomes a moot point. Your husband can relax, and you can
protect your baby.
-Anon.
====
This link might help with your circ. dilemma:
http://www.noharmm.org/jewhouseholds.htm
S.S.
====
A child is "Jewish" within the terms of Judaic law if his mother is Jewish.
Your son will not be Jewish under any definition of that term as recognized
by even reformed Jewry unless you convert to Judaism before the baby is
born, or unless the baby is formally converted to Judaism. If the baby's
conversion takes place after the bris, he will have to be "brissed" again.
The "floppy tip" contains the ridged bands--very erogenous tissue which, in
addition to everything else, allows the foreskin to taper at the end as it
is supposed to. [Removing the floppy tip] should still be viewed as
intolerable. If I may give an example from the "violence against women"
theatre: If I only strike you across the face with an open hand, as opposed
to with my fist, is that acceptable? Why would you even consider a
presumably "minor" excision of a part of your son's birthright as
acceptable? "Minimal circumcision" is tantamount to a "minimal rape."
Your son will never thank you for only cutting off part of his penis no
matter how small the amputation...but he will thank you for not forcing him
to undergo this androphobic indignity which has not a single benefit
associated with it.
-Brian A. Waldman
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 2 Issue 6 February 11, 2000)
To subscribe to the E-News write: enews@midwiferytoday.com
For all other matters contact Midwifery Today:
PO Box 2672-940, Eugene OR 97402
541-344-7438, midwifery@aol.com, Midwifery Today
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