Circumcision of Jews: why do they do it?
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Have you ever wondered where this tradition came from? I”ll tell you what, how and why.
Judaism and circumcision
Circumcision is a Jewish rite of passage for infants. This usually occurs during a ceremony called Brit (Bris) Milah, witnessed by family and community members. The rite of circumcision is an ancient practice that has been practiced for over 3, 000 years.
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According to the Torah, God commanded Abraham to circumcise himself, all male family members, his descendants, and his slaves. The Torah also says that anyone who is not circumcised has broken God”s covenant and will be cut off from his people.
Ceremony
There are no special rules regarding the location of the ceremony. Most are held at home, but some people choose to go to synagogue.
The ceremony is performed by a mohel and usually takes place on the eighth day of life unless there is a medical reason not to do so. The mohel must be an expert in religious law and possess the necessary surgical skills.
Bris is an important family holiday for Jews. The father and mohel must be present. Other family members may also be present. Traditionally, an empty chair is placed in the room for the prophet Elijah to observe the ritual.
Read also: Female circumcision in the modern world: savagery and cruelty
It would be great if things like female circumcision remained a myth. But the statistics on the number of women subjected to this barbarity are terrifying.
The mother and other family members can take the baby into the room where the circumcision is performed. The child is then held on the lap of the person chosen to be the sandek during the circumcision. This prestigious role is often assumed by the boy”s grandfather or the family rabbi.
Circumcision of the foreskin, laser circumcision in men without blood and pain | surgeon Shchevtsov A. N.
The blessing is said and a drop or two of wine falls into the child”s mouth. He was given an official Jewish name. Then the whole family enjoys a festive meal.
Opponents
Not all Jews are required to follow this practice. Some doubt the importance of this procedure and argue that circumcision is not necessary to become a Jew.
Opponents of circumcision emphasize that a child”s Jewish identity is inherited from the mother. They also cite the Torah”s prohibition against marking or altering the human body as an argument against forced circumcision.
However, it is worth noting here that not only Jews resort to the procedure of circumcision. For medical reasons, men can decide to undergo surgery already at a conscious age. Is this procedure painful? In infants, it only takes a few minutes and the wounds heal within five days. If circumcision is performed at an older age, anesthesia and special measures during the healing period are usually required.
