Download Birth and Circumcision

Birth and Circumcision
November 10, 20005
Birth Control
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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
Abortion, Infanticide &
Exposito cont.
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Infanticide
– Exodus 21: 22-25
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“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.
Abortion, Infanticide &
Exposito
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Abortion
– An emergency situation
– Not as a means of limiting number of
children
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Exposito
– Talmud states who foundlings were
allowed to marry
– Reason implied: poverty of parents
Adoption
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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
Bastard Children
(Mamzerim)
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Only offspring of incestuous or
forbidden marriages
Not mamzerim as long as marriage is
possible
Children out of wedlock are not
mamzerim
Pain in Childbirth
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Curse of Eve not her descendants
Anesthesia recommended by Rabbis
Importance of Life
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Midwives
Red Tent
“wash in the river of life”
(Diamant, 41)
Birth
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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
Naming
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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
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Name is important and describes his or her
essence
Pidyon ha-Ben: Redemption
of the First Born
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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
Brit Milah - Covenant of
Circumcision
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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
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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.
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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
THE COUNTER
CIRCUMCISION
CONTROVERSY
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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.
THE ALTERNATIVE
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“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.
Conclusion
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“Circumcision is nothing and
uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping
God’s commands is what counts”
(1 Corinthians 7:19).