![]() ![]() ![]() My intention is to bring these conflicts into the light and discuss them for what they are because if the liberal Jewish community wishes to continue justifying this ancient, yet controversial ritual, it must do so with much more honesty. It’s supposed to be important it’s an issue that raises ethical concerns, such as the nature of violence, children’s rights and the boundaries between religious and personal freedoms, yet many attempt to defend it despite the fact they’ve never given it a second thought. Brit milah is supposed to be the covenantal act of the Jewish people. It’s fascinating to me that in many, if not most, of these interactions, the conversation turns out to be the first critical Jewish examination of brit milah for the other party, and in some cases, it’s even the first time they’ve thought deeply about it at all. I’ve had the opportunity to engage with a diverse group of Jewish thinkers - ranging from my own friends and family, to mohels, to world-class medical professionals and bioethicists, and to rabbis across the Jewish religious spectrum. In this capacity, I enter into lots of Jewish discussions about the topic. As a founding member of Bruchim, the new Jewish nonprofit advocating for Jews who hold critical views of brit milah, I seek to build bridges between those who continue to practice the traditional ritual and the growing number of Jews who have come to believe, as I do, that circumcision should be a personal decision.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |