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Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Jewish Childrearing Related Questions (12/12)
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Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Jewish Childrearing Related Questions (12/12)
Previous Document: Question 21.1.14: Entering the Covenant: Does Judaism have a tradition of Godparents?
Next Document: Question 21.2.1: Naming: What are the Ashkenazi customs regarding the naming of children?
Question 21.1.15: Entering the Covenant: Is Circumcision required for a boy to be Jewish?
Answer:
Technically, no.
It is not a bris that makes a child Jewish, it is the circumstances of
birth. In traditional Judaism, if the child is born of a Jewish
mother, the child is nominally Jewish. For religious reasons, both
Conservative and Orthodox Jews view it as a terrible mistake to avoid
giving your Jewish child a brit milah (hebrew) (Note that a medical
circumcision does not count in halakha (Jewish law) as a brit).
Nonetheless, a Jew is a Jew, and he can join a synagogue and
participate just as fully as any other Jew.
Note that adults can choose to have a circumcision later in life
(although medical involvement is necessary, along with religious
involvement). Should a medical circumcision take place, your son could
always get the full religious benefit of a second circumcision: the
procedure is called hatafat dam brit, "the drawing of a tiny drop of
blood in the name of the covenant". This action and ceremony can be
done by a mohel (Hebrew)/moyel (Yiddish) nearly painlessly (surprise!)
either when your child is still an infant, a child or even as an
adult.
Lastly, note that in Reform Judaism, under the Patrilineal Descent
decision, either parent being Jewish gives the presumption of the
child being Jewish. However, Reform Judaism requires that this
presumption be confirmed by the child being raised with appropriate
Jewish lifecycle and yearcycle events (i.e., observing holidays, home
pratices, religious education)... and one of the specifically
recommended events is a circumcision!
Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Jewish Childrearing Related Questions (12/12)
Previous Document: Question 21.1.14: Entering the Covenant: Does Judaism have a tradition of Godparents?
Next Document: Question 21.2.1: Naming: What are the Ashkenazi customs regarding the naming of children?
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Last Update August 29 2008 @ 00:13 AM