By SARAH ROCKWELL As a Jew I grew up thinking circumcision was normal. All of my younger cousins and the sons of family friends were circumcised. All the children I babysat for were circumcised. The sound of a wailing baby at a Bris was something familiar—as was the apparently peacefully sleeping baby afterward. The first…
By REBECCA WALD Noni MacDonald, M.D. Is circumcising an infant less traumatic than circumcising an older child or an adult? According Brooklyn mohel Rabbi Yakov Werde, circumcising at an older age is “much more traumatic.” The mohel’s comment appears in an April 7 post on the blog “The Schmooze,” which is part of The Jewish…
Satellite radio talk show host Howard Stern told millions of listeners this Tuesday that he felt male infant circumcision should be illegal in the United States, declaring it a “mutilation.” Stern’s statements coincide with Genital Integrity Awareness Week, during which opponents of circumcision will be rallying at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. and across several…
By REBECCA WALD I have just read “The Measure of His Grief” by Jewish author Lisa Braver Moss. It is a character and issue driven novel, with an air of mystery, that is engaging and well paced. “Grief” Author, Lisa Braver Moss As the book opens, we enter the life of Berkeley physician Sandy Waldman,…
By KAREN ISSKENDEROV The issue of circumcision, which I’ll call genital mutilation or just GM, illustrates the problems of mankind. When custom and tradition become embedded in religion (or vice versa), a human rights violation can become overlooked, even accepted into society. I find it amazing we have accepted the wrongs of slavery, sexism and…
By REBECCA WALD Please don’t tell my daughter, but my husband and I have been exploring the possibility of bringing home a pet bunny for her fourth birthday. Unfortunately, we’re an allergic family. So as cute and lovable as a bunny would be, we will probably not end up adopting one. We have learned they…
By Rebecca Wald Kahlil Gibran Drawing / The Prophet Every mother is different and has her own style when it comes to raising kids. I didn’t circumcise my son and I feel it was 100% the right choice, for him and me. At the same time, I don’t condemn moms who do to circumcise. I…
By REBECCA WALD Being Jewish and opposed to circumcision can feel lonely. I know there are families who’ve decided to leave their sons intact, but all of my close Jewish friends (and gentile for that matter) have chosen to circumcise, or plan to, if they have sons. I don’t live on the progressive West…