I was rabidly pro-circumcision. Not only was I adamant about it, even
though my wife wasn't Jewish, I wouldn't even talk about it.
When I finally started looking online for a defense to my position, I
discovered an article written by a Jewish scholar regarding Talmudic
reasons why one would not circumcise. The article was very convincing in
its Talmudic concepts, to the extant that I began to at least consider the
alternatives, which led to a decision not to circumcise. My family has
since disowned me.
Anti-circumcision people, please tone down your rhetoric because you're
alienating the very people who need to hear your message. The inflammatory
language and horror stories do nothing but offend Jews such as myself. We
know that it is a painful, even distasteful, practice, but the rabid
detractors do nothing to address every Jew's primary reason for
circumcision: We perceive that G-d told us to, and to break from that
SEEMS to deny G-d. Because it is a painful experience for mothers and
fathers and everyone involved, many Jews try to make sure that the next
generation follows exactly in their footsteps, because it hurts them to
think that the pain they went through was for nothing.
This article is filled with Talmudic Law, explaining without getting
dogmatic a way in which GOOD, FAITHFUL JEWS can make the choice not to
circumcise without leaving the faith. Truly, a large number of us devout
Jews also believe that we are not breaking from tradition by not
circumcising: As the article says, it is quite within the Jewish tradition
to question, and even change Jewish law as new circumstances change. Though
it isn't discussed much in the Jewish tradition, many Jewish laws have been
changed because of changing circumstance.
The article can be found at either
students.seattleu.edu/gradb/circumcision.html, or www.circumcision.org.
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 2 Issue 7 February 18, 2000)
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