Circumcision As An Initiation Into The Jewish Community

Shayne J. D. Cohen presents an extensive study of the question “why aren’t Jewish women circumcised?” Throughout the book he examines this question in a number of different and unique ways. He writes this book in hopes to inform and educate the curious mind such as scholars and lay people. Furthermore, he states that “In this book I am interested not only in the history of Jewish circumcision but also, and perhaps even more so, in the history of Jewishness.” (Cohen, pg.xii) In other words, Cohen not only presents the reader with the history of the question, but also the history of the Jews and Christians. Overall, Shayne J. D. Cohen brings up the issue of gender within Judaism when he asks the question, also known as the title of the book,

The reason circumcision is performed at all is for historical and religious reasons, not for medical reasons. Circumcision is not medically necessary; the medical societies now consider it optional, and will in time recommend against it because of the risks involved. The health benefits claimed are always statistically minor and so do not warrant the practice. Additionally, any putative health benefits mostly relate to adult males; to circumcise a baby today for benefits that are hoped to accrue decades later is unwarranted, because advances in medicine that will occur during those decades may make such prevention

Although circumcision is thought to be one of the oldest procedures in the world, the manner in which American doctors perform it is relatively new. Unbeknownst to most modern day Americans, circumcision wasn’t widely practiced in the country until about 1910. As a matter of fact, none of our founding fathers, including Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, were circumcised! Americans tend to be dumbfounded when they learn that “about 80 percent of the world's population do not practice circumcision, nor have they ever done so.” (Wallerstein) We are, in

Oppressed, disseminated, exiled, time and again mistreated, the Jews not only endured but contributed indispensably to the Western civilization, playing a critical role in almost every vital episode of world history. This survey of the second temple period will capture the survival of Jews and the advancement of Judaism under foreign rulers that took place in the span of six hundred years. These turn of events begin from late sixth century Before Christ (BC), and culminate in 70 Anno Domini (AD) with the destruction of the second temple in Jerusalem by the Roman Empire.

Part A: Explain, from the perspective of a girl in a culture who participates in this ritual, one reason why they would agree to participate in female circumcision. So in essence, I want you to be culturally relativistic and use what you have learned this week to explain why young women still do this. Use what you’ve learned in the lecture, film, or readings.

Throughout all of the difficulties of the early church the largest issue that I can see was the belief of whether to circumcision or not to circumcise, and If doing so makes you a Christian or not. The Jewish Christians believed that the only way that a new converts could be saved was to be circumcised, it was also written in the book of Genesis that it was required for all Israelite males to be circumcised. The Jewish converts were also told that must keep the Laws of Moses, according to Acts 15:5. It was said that circumcision was done to mark the Jew’s as heirs to Yahweh’s and to show that they kept their promise to Abraham. The confrontation between the Mosaic Torah and Jewish Christians gave Luke a great opportunity to learn about

Paul speaks of how Abraham was accredited righteous by faith before he was circumcise. However, circumcision was given to Abraham as “a seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had before while uncircumcised.”

What Allah had stated for us to do, for us to oblige, would surely benefit for us as well. Allah will never ask us to do something that will not have any way affiliated to our own benefits. Everything He asks us to do is something that will help us in our life too, to lead a better life. So we should believe that also applies in circumcision, as it is an apparent issue in races, ethics and religion. Usually the males are the ones that have issues with this. Believe it or not, male circumcision still remains as a hot debate topic among medical experts in the field of medical expertise. Medical experts have different opinions on circumcision, but removing your foreskin would surely cause something to your body. As Islam preached to us to do circumcision,

Also some Pharisees insisted that it was needful to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses. The main issue was finally brought up which was circumcision but there was also other important problems too. There was a big dispute between the follows of the Pillars of the Church which was led by James who believed following his interpretation of the great commision, that the church must obserce the Tora, for example the rules of traditional Judaism, and Paul, who believed there was no need. Also diets, fornication and idolatry were dealt with.

Testament. This obviously angered and affected the Jewish community because they could no longer practice rituals from their own religion. This was part of what drove many of them to eventually revolt against Antiochus. The Jews

The aim of this paper is the presentation of advantages and disadvantages associated with male circumcision based on peer reviewed articles and recommendations of WHO. The ethical and religious aspects of circumcision will not be discussed in this paper.

Throughout the Torah the Israelites are constantly portrayed as righteous people. What made Judaism exclusive was the special relationship God established with the Jewish people. God himself establishes the idea of Jews as his chosen people reiterating the many promises he made with them. The most important covenant God made was with Abraham. Abraham was a righteous man and God said to him “I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan,where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” ( BibleGateway). To remember this promise, God ordered Abraham to circumcise himself, Jewish males, and future newborn males. As a result of this covenant, one of Judaism 's important traditions is the circumcision of males. God emphasized making an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants and because God is God, no one, not even the Jews, could challenge his authority. It is clear to our understanding that not all races have a direct genetic lineage with Abraham, so therefore it can only be

In Western Societies, such as the United States, women have become more independent both politically and financially. Yet, in third world countries and patriarchal societies, it is not uncommon to see women hold subservient roles to men. Many women still follow traditions of the past within their cultures, such as, female genital mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision-- a painful surgical procedure to remove part of the clitoris (or clitoral hood) to suppress female sexuality. Female circumcision is banned in the United States, as the World Health Organization considers the procedure a violation of human rights for women and girls (“FGM in the United States”). In a recent case, two physicians and the wife of one of the doctors have been criminally

Circumcise first appears in Genesis 17; God told Abram that he will be circumcised in the flesh to show his covenant with God (ESV). In the Old Testament circumcision was done a sharp flint stone. It was not just for the Israelites but it was also for the foreigners and servants in the land.

Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world. Everyone knows that so that should be nothing new. Although Judaism is one of the oldest religions is it also one of the smallest in population. It all started back 2,000 B.C. in a period known as the Abrahamic period. At this time the Jewish people are just beginning to be known as their own distinctive group. The Jews practice what is their Jewish Identity and at the time they establish being monotheistic. One of the other characteristics they have established was circumcision. After that, around the time 1,500 B.C. the Jews become a nation and take possession of Palestine. Since 2,000 B.C. they have made many strides in their religion by coming up with the ten commandments, which are divine rules of conduct given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. Then, between 1,500-1,000 B.C. the Jews establish their own monarchy. The nation was under brief political control by Saul, David, and Solomon. While Solomon was under control a temple was built and it was the symbol of their faith. Next, after that the Jews are now taken under by foreign control around 500 B.C.. While they are under control the Jewish people are exiled but are then able to return and the their gracious temple was destroyed but they were able to rebuild it. Then, in around 70 B.C. the Jews come back to Palestine and rebuild the temple. Once they do that they rebel against the Roman control in which they are under. Finally, after that, the Jews are forced out of