When Rituals Become Dangerous

Yesterday’s revelation that hundreds of people were exposed to Hepatitis A after taking communion at a Long Island Catholic church brings to mind another more serious health risk caused by an ancient superstitious ritual.

If you think sharing an infected communion cup is dangerous, what would you think about a mohel (ritual circumciser) sucking blood directly from a baby’s penis?  Sound disgusting and dangerous?  Well I’m not making it up.

Metzitza b’peh, or literally, sucking with the mouth, is a time-honored tradition among Haredi Jews.  Many of them refuse to give it up despite the fact that children and mohels have become infected with herpes and other viruses as a result of this barbarous practice.

The sad thing is that it’s not even really required by Jewish law and that it was apparently instituted for health reasons.  Many modern Orthodox rabbis have by and large abandoned it.

The issue goes well beyond this one repellent element and extends to ritual circumcision in general.  I have stated before that I oppose circumcision and will have nothing to do with any ceremony in which it is included.  In keeping with my belief that human culture, which is to say ALL culture, must serve human needs, I would love to see this ritual go the way of animal sacrifices.

Leaving aside the religious justifications dating back to Abraham’s covenant with God, I have been presented with two basically secular arguments justifying the continuation of this primitive practice.  The first is that there may be medical benefits.  The jury is out on this.  Medical “justifications” for circumcision are always changing.  Certainly all agree that practicing good hygiene eliminates any health advantages that circumcision might otherwise confer.

The other non-religious claim (although clearly based on religious tradition) is that even basically secular Jews don’t want their kids to look or feel different from other Jews.  I fail to see how this has any relevance whatsoever.  Most men will attest that when they’re dealing with anything requiring their penises, Jewish identity is the last thing on their minds.

Besides, most young non-religious Jews don’t think twice about eating shrimp, getting tattoos or having sex without mikvah.  Why then must the penis carry the burden of standard bearer of secular Jewish identity (pardon the imagery)?  As with all of these other traditions, maybe we should allow them to decide when they grow up.  I think I know what they’ll choose.

The widespread, reason-defying Jewish practice of ritual genital mutilation should come to an end.  It is unbecoming for otherwise enlightened and modern people.  It serves no human need and, as unnecessary surgery, it carries unwarrantable risks.

I’m sure glad that I only have daughters.