When circumcision critic Lisa Braver Moss learned that half the boys attending her synagogue preschool had not been circumcised, she was stunned. Soon after, Lisa discovered that even some rabbis were secretly choosing to leave their boys intact. In this short but groundbreaking new video, Lisa Braver Moss uncovers the “don’t ask/don’t tell” policies that…
By REBECCA WALD I recently watched “Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things.” Available on Netflix, the film profiles Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus —two great guys whose podcasts I’ve been enjoying for some time. They call themselves The Minimalists and put a modern spin on the age-old concept of doing more with less.…
It’s hard to believe that this May marks the two-year anniversary of the official release of “Celebrating Brit Shalom,” a book of alternative bris ceremonies for Jewish families who have decided not to circumcise their newborn sons. Written with my delightful co-author and partner in crime, Lisa Braver Moss, we knew from the start that our…
Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin’s remarks may be the first of their kind, publicly acknowledging the importance of making Jewish families feel welcome in congregational life when they have made a different choice about circumcision. The rabbi’s remarks precede a talk given by Lisa Braver Moss at her synagogue, Temple Sinai, in Oakland California. Following a brief presentation…
By ROSS GLAZIER I believe that we can complain about circumcision until we all pass out (or on) but until we connect circumcision to much larger issues that are poisoning our world we will be unable to end it. I think that rigid religious doctrine and rigid religious ritual are both traps. Rigid religious doctrine…
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…