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August 31, 2005
I'm no orthodox Jew
Or orthodox anything, but sucking a baby's penis for any reason seems like a bad idea at the very least. Three babies in New York State alone have died as a result of metzitzah b'peh, (loosely translated as "oral suction") the sucking of blood from the penis of a newly circumcised baby boy, to stem its flow. At one time matzitza-bpeh was a medically necessary procedure. I do find the need for scientific justication of a medical practice for another medically unnecessary ritual rather ironic. Most mohels and Rabbis no longer practice this, preferring to use a tube or something instead. It's sad sometimes, what people will do for tradition even when faced with thousands of reasons why the tradition should be abandoned. Why? "The Orthodox Jewish community will continue the practice that has been practiced for over 5,000 years," said Rabbi David Niederman of the United Jewish Organization in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, after the meeting with the mayor. "We do not change. And we will not change."
In other words, just because.
Posted by JonasParker at August 31, 2005 12:56 PM
Comments
The article says that only one died.
Posted by: correction at September 17, 2005 10:54 AM
Sorry, I was referring to a related article that I forgot to cite. Yes, it sounds bad, but I suppose that I don't care enough to go back and research the articles I read.
Posted by: JonasParker at September 17, 2005 1:12 PM
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