By NICOLE KATZ-LAHEY I’ve always been an extremely passionate person. When I was a kid my passions were sports and animals. If I did something, I did it with every inch of my being. I’m now a mother of three and, true to my personality, I have to be the best mother I have it…
By LO MARET I grew up in a secular Jewish family. Like many Jewish families where religion is not the focus, we still observed some traditions, like the High Holidays. However, as a young girl, I began questioning all forms of organized religion and this is perhaps the first step I took in choosing to…
The oldest Jewish congregation in the East San Francisco Bay region, founded in 1875, will host a groundbreaking discussion surrounding the choice to skip circumcision by Jewishly observant families. The Reform synagogue, Temple Sinai of Oakland California, has a long history of welcoming Jews of all stripes. They recently added language to their website indicating…
Sean Altman uses satire and melody to spread the message that people of all backgrounds should consider foregoing circumcision for their newborn sons. By REBECCA WALD “Moishe Pipik”—directly translated from the Yiddish this phrase means “Moses Bellybutton.” It’s an illusive, archaic, Jewish expression that might be used to describe a prankster, one…
Genital Integrity Awareness Week, or GIAW, has been celebrated annually during the last week of March since 1992. During the week, gatherings are held in cities and towns across the United States, with the largest gathering in Washington, D.C. There is a large demonstration/march on the West Lawn of the Capitol—as well as many informal…
When Brian and Sarah Kirkell saw a protest outside the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) Conference in Washington DC they shared their story of how they came to protect their son’s genital integrity, and educate their daughter about genital autonomy too.
This adorable miniature diorama showing a brit shalom ceremony, crafted by Lisa Braver Moss, was front and center at our booth during the Union for Reform Judaism’s Biennial. It served as a perfect icebreaker to get the conversation going. By REBECCA WALDBeing so involved in the circumcision issue, it’s easy for me to forget that many are still…
By REBECCA WALD When it comes to Jewish circumcision, Erica Jong has a bad case of dysentery. You know, in the Woody Allen sense, where commentary and dissent merge? It’s a bug that Jong can’t seem to shake. For those too young to remember, Jong is best known for her 1973 breakout novel Fear of…
The Union for Reform Judaism conference will be a great place to engage in dialogue with Jewish leaders about meeting the ceremonial needs of families that opt out of circumcision. A 4000-plus convergence of Reform rabbis and congregational leaders is taking place in Orlando this November and Celebrating Brit Shalom will be on hand. Celebrating Brit Shalom is…
Brochure highlights danger of oral-gential contact during ritual circumcision but laws are needed to protect vulnerable babies. By REBECCA WALD One topic I’ve never before addressed on Beyond the Bris is the practice of metzitsah b’peh. This very ancient practice takes place during traditional religious circumcision, just after the mohel has removed the foreskin. Before this…
Imagine a world in the near future where sex is just for recreation. A world where hopeful parents-to-be (even those of relatively modest means) go to IVF clinics to pre-select embryos based on their genetic desirability—and where genetic enhancement through various techniques is possible. This is the world of Jamie Metzl’s newest book, Genesis Code:…
Marilyn Milos, RN, references “Celebrating Brit Shalom” atthe 2015 Birth Keeper Summit in Berkeley, CA. By REBECCA WALD Well, it’s official. Drumroll please! As of today the Oakland-based indie publishing company, Notim Press, has officially released Celebrating Brit Shalom, a book I’ve co-authored with my wonderful colleague and friend Lisa Braver Moss.Celebrating Brit Shalom is…
By REBECCA WALD Italian artist Vincenzo Aiello has made what he says is the first-ever recreation of the male foreskin. Calling it an art piece, he’s offering these ultra-realistic sculptures of “HuFo” to backers of his Kickstarter crowd-funding effort.The purpose of the campaign, which seems well on track to meet its $40,000 goal, is to…
Jonathan Friedman is the last person some might expect to be lead activist in a high-profile circumcision case. After all, the Brooklyn-born yeshiva graduate was raised to believe in the centrality of circumcision.But Friedman defies many conventions as he travels the U.S. organizing protests and otherwise rallying the Intactivist troops. Despite graduating from The Cooper…