RMPS - Int2/Higher - World Religions - Judaism - Education Scotland

Rites of passage and education
Brit Milah
THE PRACTICES THAT HELP ACHIEVE THE GOALS
Brit Milah (pr. breet meelah) is the term given to male circumcision, the
oldest Jewish ritual and one that has remained unchanged up to the
present day. (Judaism does not permit female circumcision.)
Circumcision is practised by many peoples in the world but it is only for
the Jewish people that it is a sign of their acceptance of their
relationship with God. As described in Genesis 17: 9–14, where it
originated from the time of Abraham, circumcision is an external symbol
of the covenant. Brit Milah should take place, in accordance with
Leviticus 12: 3 on the eighth day after birth, even if this falls on Shabbat
or Yom Kippur. The only factor that allows the postponement of the
circumcision is the baby’s health.
As previously mentioned (in section 1), being Jewish is a matter of birth
except in the case of a convert, so circumcision does not turn a baby
into a Jew. According to halachah an uncircumcised Jew is still a Jew if
he has a Jewish mother.
A circumcision is an occasion for celebration for the family and the
community. Today the preferred place for this to take place is at home.
Appropriate short prayers and blessings are recited. The honour of
being godparents is given to selected friends or family, and the baby is
named. 2 The naming has its origins in Genesis as Abram’s name became
complete when it was changed to Abraham after his circumcision. Whilst
it is preferable to have a minyan for this event, it is not a requirement.
The ceremony may conclude with a festive meal which has its origins in
the circumcision of Isaac.
Some circumcisions occur in hospital where the ceremony is curtailed,
but the essential blessings can still be recited.
Circumcision has become a controversial issue worldwide with claims
that it causes unnecessary pain and is an infringement of the child’s
rights. However, while the health benefits are very evenly balanced it is
important to remember that it is not being done for health reasons but
as an act of faith indicating a belief in God and in the covenant between
God and Abraham. It is carried out even by the non-observant. It is a
religious right upheld by human-rights legislation. Those who perform
the circumcision are highly skilled after long training and there is a
minimum of upset to the infant.
2 A girl is named in the synagogue, usually on the first Shabbat after her birth.
RMPS: WORLD RELIGIONS – JUDAISM (INT 2, H) 79
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