Birth and Circumcision

1. Birth and Circumcision November 10, 20005

2. Birth Control • Mitzvah to procreate • Mitzvah for husband to fulfill wife’s “other than procreational” needs • Birth control becomes mandate for health reasons • Just as reckless to over-breed as to refrain from procreation, especially if proper nurture is not given to children

3. Abortion, Infanticide & Exposito cont. • Infanticide • Exodus 21: 22-25 • “And if men strive together and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow; he shall be surely fined, according as the woman’s husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follow, than thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” • Nothing stands higher than saving a life.

4. Abortion, Infanticide & Exposito • Abortion • An emergency situation • Not as a means of limiting number of children • Exposito • Talmud states who foundlings were allowed to marry • Reason implied: poverty of parents

5. Adoption • No formal procedure • Talmud- he who raises the child is regarded as the biological parent • Fulfills obligation to procreate • Status of child • Not Jewish unless converted • Approved by Bet Din (rabbinic court) • Circumcision or Hatafat Dam Brit • Parents commit to Jewish education

6. Bastard Children (Mamzerim) • Only offspring of incestuous or forbidden marriages • Not mamzerim as long as marriage is possible • Children out of wedlock are not mamzerim

7. Pain in Childbirth • Curse of Eve not her descendants • Anesthesia recommended by Rabbis

8. Importance of Life • Midwives • Red Tent • “wash in the river of life” (Diamant, 41)

9. Birth • Human life begins when child is halfway out of mother’s body • The child is born pure, without sin • Woman considered niddah after birth • The father is given the honour of an aliyah

10. Naming • Girl named at the aliyah • Boy named at circumcision • Form for Hebrew name • Boy’s name “child's name” ben “father's name” • Girl’s name “child's name” bat “father's name” • Ha-Kohein and Ha-Levi • Name is important and describes his or her essence

11. Pidyon ha-Ben: Redemption of the First Born • First and best always belongs to God • Golden Calf incident • Must be first born sons, born naturally and not from tribe of Levi • Ritual performed on 31st day of boy’s life • Need to pay small sum to a kohein

12. Brit Milah - Covenant of Circumcision • Commonly known as Bris • Ritual observed by even the most unobservant Jews • Commandment for circumcision made in Gen. 17:10-14 and Lev. 12:3

13. Circumcision is the physical symbol of Abraham’s covenant with G-d • Commandment applies to both father and son. • Ritual to be performed on the 8th day after birth. • Ritual only performed on males.

14. Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis • To be religiously valid, the circumcision must be performed by a mohel • If circumcision is improperly done or not possible a symbolic circumcision can be done - hatafat dam brit An izmel -the traditional knife used

15. THE COUNTER CIRCUMCISION CONTROVERSY • Circumcision is often painful and stressful both for parents and babies. • It is often discouraged for health reasons. • Baby’s often experience shock symptoms, increased irritability and behavioral pain response, as well as changes in behavior, sleeping patterns, and infant-maternal interaction, and later in life a diminished sexual experience.

16. THE ALTERNATIVE • “Judaism values ethics above both doctrine and reason.” • A circumcisionless ritual is now often performed. • This allows for more pronounced female birth rituals as well.

17. Conclusion • “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts” (1 Corinthians 7:19).