Mohels Give Non-Jewish Babies a Slice of Tradition

[HadassahSukkot]

I think this is a bit too awesome for it to 'hide' in the news section alone.
(Mods, it's ok to move it if it needs to be!)


Mohels Give Non-Jewish Babies a Slice of Tradition
The Jewish Daily Forward (http://www.forward.com/articles/12351/)

When his son was born, Reverend Louis DeCaro Jr. was dismayed to learn that none of the doctors on call at Manhattan’s Allen Pavilion hospital had time to perform the circumcision. At a loss, the DeCaros turned for advice to their Manhattan pediatrician, Andrew Mutnick, who offered a simple solution: Hire a Jewish ritual circumciser, known as a mohel.
Mutnick put the family in touch with Cantor Philip Sherman, an Orthodox mohel working in the tri-state area....

[visionary]

Cool...

[stone]

Both Blake and Sherman have even been approached by “Torah-observant Christians” — those dedicated to observing Old Testament commandments — seeking to have their sons circumcised on the eighth day after the birth. In all cases, families say they are drawn to the intimacy and convenience of a nonritual circumcision performed at home.

[stone]

so that's what they call us ey, "Torah observant christians", i can live with that. :cool:

[HadassahSukkot]

That struck my mom as interesting, which prompted her to send me the article..

I thought it was rather interesting that mohels are being called on, as sometimes hospitals outright refuse to do circumcisions for various reasons (as some are mentioned in the article, some reasons are not stated)... I just find it rather fascinating really all the way around.. "May this be a new trend which draws more people to Scripture and the people of G-d" is all I can think..!

[stone]

"May this be a new trend which draws more people to Scripture and the people of G-d"

I agree! :)

[visionary]

What about the covenant sign that is associated with this?

[Wags]

I have non-jewish, non-messianic friends that always use a mohel - they say they want a "specialist" for the job. :)

[Bananna]

Wow it is like twice the cost of the West Coast. I thought they were only paying 3-400 here. I'd pay it gladly. We just could not find one in time when we first became interested. Now that we know a few, they are also pediatricians and they won't do them anymore.

Bananna

[Wags]

Those are east coast friends - no one other than Jews and Messianics seem to care on this coast. To the best of my knowledge there are only 3 mohels in this entire state - and all of them are located in the same city.

In the rest of the state traditional Jews and Messianic Jews simply has a rabbi come say the appropriate blessings while a Jewish doctor (or any doctor in a pinch) does the circ.

[Henaynei]

What about the covenant sign that is associated with this?it is only a covenant sign when it is done AS a sign of the covenant and includes the ritual forms that go with it.... and is done on a Jewish baby ....

gentile boys have been routinely circumcised for nearly 100 years ... I doubt as much as 1/100th of 1% have ever entered the covenant and converted to Judaism - some have and for them it is necessary to draw a drop of blood from the organ of procreation in a ritual setting as part of their conversion process ...

[judahsgem]

That struck my mom as interesting, which prompted her to send me the article..

I thought it was rather interesting that mohels are being called on, as sometimes hospitals outright refuse to do circumcisions for various reasons (as some are mentioned in the article, some reasons are not stated)... I just find it rather fascinating really all the way around.. "May this be a new trend which draws more people to Scripture and the people of G-d" is all I can think..!

HadassahSukkot,
I am soooo overwhelmingly happy that you posted this. I actually was making plans a few years ago, for when hubby & I have children, for a circumcision. I did not want it done at a hospital, as I read some horrible stories of them and my sister's son had a bad experience having his at the hospital. Anyhow..i contacted several mohels, via the internet, in my area and clear out to the other coast of the country,and they ALL turned me down, bc I'm not Jewish by blood (that i know of, at this time).
To see that there are a few Mohels out there willing to provide those services afterall is such a blessing to me, to know. I now have a place to contact for this, thanks to your article.
I'm crying I'm so happy. ^_^
Thank you so much for posting it.
BIG HUGE HUG coming your way!!:hug: