http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/extended-discussion/religious-circumcision/t.49697007/
(My thread in ED:MR)
I fervently believe in it for Jewish Males.
I was religiously Circumcised as an infant and would do the same my son if I had one.
It's G-d's first commandment to the Jewish People.
http://www.milah.net/
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/144122/jewish/Brit-Milah.htm
(My thread in ED:MR)
I fervently believe in it for Jewish Males.
I was religiously Circumcised as an infant and would do the same my son if I had one.
It's G-d's first commandment to the Jewish People.
http://www.milah.net/
Quote:
THE BRIT MILAH CEREMONY:
The baby is brought in to the room, carried by the kvatter and kvatterin, considered by many to be the godparents.
Two chairs are prepared for the Brit. The first is for the Sandek, the individual who holds the baby on their knees during the actual circumcision. The lap of the Sandek is considered analogous to the altar of the Temple itself. It is considered a great honour to be the Sandek because there is a Cabbalistic tradition that links the soul of the Sandek with the child. In this way, the Sandek is considered the spiritual mentor of the child. In many instances, one of the grandfathers serves as the Sandek.
The second chair is set aside for the spirit of Elijah the Prophet, the "Angel of the Covenant". According to Jewish tradition, Elijah comes to every circumcision to testify before the Almighty to the commitment of the Jewish people to this great mitzvah throughout the generations. During the ceremony, just prior to the Brit itself, the baby is placed on the chair of Elijah, and the Mohel recites a special prayer asking for the spirit of Elijah to stand over him as he performs the Brit.
After the Mohel has performed the brit, a special blessing is recited upon a cup of wine, and the baby is given his Hebrew name. It is customary to serve refreshments or a meal after the brit, and this is considered a seudat mitzvah, part of the mitzvah. (Obviously all food served should be kosher.)
Ideally, a minyan should be present for a Brit, although this is not a pre-requisite.
The baby is brought in to the room, carried by the kvatter and kvatterin, considered by many to be the godparents.
Two chairs are prepared for the Brit. The first is for the Sandek, the individual who holds the baby on their knees during the actual circumcision. The lap of the Sandek is considered analogous to the altar of the Temple itself. It is considered a great honour to be the Sandek because there is a Cabbalistic tradition that links the soul of the Sandek with the child. In this way, the Sandek is considered the spiritual mentor of the child. In many instances, one of the grandfathers serves as the Sandek.
The second chair is set aside for the spirit of Elijah the Prophet, the "Angel of the Covenant". According to Jewish tradition, Elijah comes to every circumcision to testify before the Almighty to the commitment of the Jewish people to this great mitzvah throughout the generations. During the ceremony, just prior to the Brit itself, the baby is placed on the chair of Elijah, and the Mohel recites a special prayer asking for the spirit of Elijah to stand over him as he performs the Brit.
After the Mohel has performed the brit, a special blessing is recited upon a cup of wine, and the baby is given his Hebrew name. It is customary to serve refreshments or a meal after the brit, and this is considered a seudat mitzvah, part of the mitzvah. (Obviously all food served should be kosher.)
Ideally, a minyan should be present for a Brit, although this is not a pre-requisite.
Quote:
THE HISTORY OF BRIT MILAH:
"And G-d spoke to Abraham saying: ...This is my covenant which you shall keep between Me and you and thy seed after you -every male child among you shall be circumcised." (Gen. 17:12) For 3500 years, since the time of our forefather Abraham, the Jewish people have observed the ritual of circumcision as the fundamental sign of the covenant between G-d and Israel. Known in Hebrew as Brit Milah, "the Covenant of Circumcision", it is considered much more than a simple medical procedure. Brit Milah is considered the sign of a new-born child's entry into the Jewish tradition. For millennia, in every country where Jews have lived, they have always practiced this ritual, sometimes at great personal sacrifice. Perhaps more than any other ritual, Brit Milah is the ultimate affirmation of Jewish identity.
"And G-d spoke to Abraham saying: ...This is my covenant which you shall keep between Me and you and thy seed after you -every male child among you shall be circumcised." (Gen. 17:12) For 3500 years, since the time of our forefather Abraham, the Jewish people have observed the ritual of circumcision as the fundamental sign of the covenant between G-d and Israel. Known in Hebrew as Brit Milah, "the Covenant of Circumcision", it is considered much more than a simple medical procedure. Brit Milah is considered the sign of a new-born child's entry into the Jewish tradition. For millennia, in every country where Jews have lived, they have always practiced this ritual, sometimes at great personal sacrifice. Perhaps more than any other ritual, Brit Milah is the ultimate affirmation of Jewish identity.
Quote:
PROCEDURE & ANESTHETIC:
The procedure involved in Brit Milah differs from medical circumcision in that heavy clamping or other interventional instruments are forbidden. The Mohel (Ritual Circumciser) uses a protective shield to ensure the utmost safety for the child, and then cleanses the incision through a uniquely Jewish practice called m'tzitzah.
The procedure is extremely quick, and relatively painless. According to most Rabbinic authorities, Jewish law does allow the use of a topical anaesthetic cream (EMLA®, or MAXELINE®). Some Mohalim (ritual circumcisers), including myself, use this anaesthetic cream routinely, with the approval of the family's personal physician or paediatrician.
The procedure involved in Brit Milah differs from medical circumcision in that heavy clamping or other interventional instruments are forbidden. The Mohel (Ritual Circumciser) uses a protective shield to ensure the utmost safety for the child, and then cleanses the incision through a uniquely Jewish practice called m'tzitzah.
The procedure is extremely quick, and relatively painless. According to most Rabbinic authorities, Jewish law does allow the use of a topical anaesthetic cream (EMLA®, or MAXELINE®). Some Mohalim (ritual circumcisers), including myself, use this anaesthetic cream routinely, with the approval of the family's personal physician or paediatrician.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/144122/jewish/Brit-Milah.htm
Quote:
Almost Painless
A common misconception is that the baby experiences a great deal of pain from circumcision. In truth, the performance of ritual circumcision is almost painless for the child. The way circumcision is practiced in most hospitals today includes using a Gamco clamp to crush the skin and seal the blood vessels, providing an almost bloodless circumcision but with great pain to the infant.
Ritual circumcision, on the other hand, is performed using a finely honed blade of surgical steel (like a scalpel) and a non-constricting guard which is placed over the foreskin. The procedure involves the removal of a small piece of skin – no flesh or muscle is cut at all!
The statement that circumcision is almost painless to the child is not made lightly. Indeed, an adult who once underwent circumcision while the local anesthetic had not taken effect (this occurs in very rare cases when the patient is immune to the anesthesia) experienced absolutely no pain from the circumcision itself. In fact, after the circumcision was completed, he inquired as to when the procedure would begin. It was only when the attending surgeon attempted to tie off the blood vessels and to suture the skin that the patient made it known in a most vocal manner that the anesthetic had not taken. Since a newborn does not require sutures, nor does he need blood vessels to be tied, he does not experience this pain. In addition, it should be noted that the nerves in a newborn of eight days are not fully developed.
On another occasion, a highly experienced mohel was supervising a student performing a circumcision. The mohel was holding the infant on his lap during the procedure (he was the sandek). The student performed a perfect circumcision, and as he was about to close the diaper after completing the dressing, the mohel noticed some blood on the diaper. Concerned that the dressing had not contained the bleeding, he reopened the diaper. The dressing was neatly in place and there was no bleeding.
Puzzled, he once again closed the diaper and was surprised to find additional blood on the outside. It was only at this point that the mohel discovered that the student had inadvertently cut the mohel’s finger during the procedure. The cut was all the way to the bone and yet the mohel had not felt a thing. If a deep wound to the bone did not cause any pain in an adult, certainly a superficial skin cut with the same instrument should not cause any pain in a newborn – especially since the nerves in a newborn are not fully developed.
If this true, why does the infant cry? A newborn will tend to cry as soon as his diaper is opened and he is uncovered. This may be due to a need to feel enclosed or merely because he is feeling cold. If one pays careful attention, one will see that the baby starts to cry before any procedure has actually been performed. Notice, also, that the infant stops crying shortly after the procedure has been completed, and then usually falls asleep. Any discomfort experienced by the infant afterwards is due to the dressing on the wound, which feels foreign to him.
A common misconception is that the baby experiences a great deal of pain from circumcision. In truth, the performance of ritual circumcision is almost painless for the child. The way circumcision is practiced in most hospitals today includes using a Gamco clamp to crush the skin and seal the blood vessels, providing an almost bloodless circumcision but with great pain to the infant.
Ritual circumcision, on the other hand, is performed using a finely honed blade of surgical steel (like a scalpel) and a non-constricting guard which is placed over the foreskin. The procedure involves the removal of a small piece of skin – no flesh or muscle is cut at all!
The statement that circumcision is almost painless to the child is not made lightly. Indeed, an adult who once underwent circumcision while the local anesthetic had not taken effect (this occurs in very rare cases when the patient is immune to the anesthesia) experienced absolutely no pain from the circumcision itself. In fact, after the circumcision was completed, he inquired as to when the procedure would begin. It was only when the attending surgeon attempted to tie off the blood vessels and to suture the skin that the patient made it known in a most vocal manner that the anesthetic had not taken. Since a newborn does not require sutures, nor does he need blood vessels to be tied, he does not experience this pain. In addition, it should be noted that the nerves in a newborn of eight days are not fully developed.
On another occasion, a highly experienced mohel was supervising a student performing a circumcision. The mohel was holding the infant on his lap during the procedure (he was the sandek). The student performed a perfect circumcision, and as he was about to close the diaper after completing the dressing, the mohel noticed some blood on the diaper. Concerned that the dressing had not contained the bleeding, he reopened the diaper. The dressing was neatly in place and there was no bleeding.
Puzzled, he once again closed the diaper and was surprised to find additional blood on the outside. It was only at this point that the mohel discovered that the student had inadvertently cut the mohel’s finger during the procedure. The cut was all the way to the bone and yet the mohel had not felt a thing. If a deep wound to the bone did not cause any pain in an adult, certainly a superficial skin cut with the same instrument should not cause any pain in a newborn – especially since the nerves in a newborn are not fully developed.
If this true, why does the infant cry? A newborn will tend to cry as soon as his diaper is opened and he is uncovered. This may be due to a need to feel enclosed or merely because he is feeling cold. If one pays careful attention, one will see that the baby starts to cry before any procedure has actually been performed. Notice, also, that the infant stops crying shortly after the procedure has been completed, and then usually falls asleep. Any discomfort experienced by the infant afterwards is due to the dressing on the wound, which feels foreign to him.
Quote:
Postponing the Brit for Health Reasons
It is of utmost importance that the Brit be held on the eighth day after the child's birth. However, in the case of certain medical circumstances, when there is even a remote possibility that the child is not strong enough to undergo circumcision, the Torah requires that the Brit be postponed until he has recovered. If the baby is born premature, weak, or ill in any way, or if he is diagnosed with a health condition such as jaundice or an eye infection, the Brit is temporarily postponed. We wait for the child's full recovery before performing the circumcision.
In certain cases, we wait seven full days after his recovery before performing the Brit, as Maimonides states: "It is always possible to perform a Brit, whereas one cannot bring a Jewish soul back to life." Contact a competent rabbi or mohel to discuss any circumstances that may indicate a postponement.
In the case of twin boys, when one is healthy and can undergo a Brit while the other is not, we make each Brit separately; we do not wait to do them both at the same time.
It is of utmost importance that the Brit be held on the eighth day after the child's birth. However, in the case of certain medical circumstances, when there is even a remote possibility that the child is not strong enough to undergo circumcision, the Torah requires that the Brit be postponed until he has recovered. If the baby is born premature, weak, or ill in any way, or if he is diagnosed with a health condition such as jaundice or an eye infection, the Brit is temporarily postponed. We wait for the child's full recovery before performing the circumcision.
In certain cases, we wait seven full days after his recovery before performing the Brit, as Maimonides states: "It is always possible to perform a Brit, whereas one cannot bring a Jewish soul back to life." Contact a competent rabbi or mohel to discuss any circumstances that may indicate a postponement.
In the case of twin boys, when one is healthy and can undergo a Brit while the other is not, we make each Brit separately; we do not wait to do them both at the same time.
