The entire civil complaint that was filed in federal court in Manhattan yesterday by haredi organizations and mohels seeking to stop NYC's requirement that parents sign an informed consent document before allowing their baby to have a circumcision that includes mouth-to-bleeding-penis sucking by the mohel.
A Chabad mohel performing metzitzah b'peh on a baby last month
Here it is as a PDF document:
Download CRC Agudath Israel of America et al v NYC 10-11-2012
I think it's a good thing.
The city will be able to refute these lies publicly.
Posted by: shoshy | October 12, 2012 at 12:46 PM
THE INSANITY OF THEESE RABBIS KNOWS NO LIMIT, I AM A SHAMED TO BE A JEW DESPICABLE THEY ARE BRINGING CHILLEL HASHEM TO US ALL .
Posted by: jancsibacsi | October 12, 2012 at 12:59 PM
According to the inane civil complaint, the Dept. of Hygiene has no definitive proof that this practice dangerous.
Methinks NYC needs to get the State involved ASAP. Inasmuch as circumcision is a surgical procedure coupled with the fact that the States have the power to decide who gets to perform surgery or practice medicine in their respective states — it should be a simple matter of ending this risky practice.
Christian Scientists aren't given carte blanche to impose their wacky ideas about medicine upon their children in the name of Freedom of Religion. I don't know why these Neanderbrows are being given such a wide berth.
Posted by: Nigritude Ultramarine | October 12, 2012 at 01:20 PM
Is Jones Day doing this pro bono or are these rabbis wasting real money on this case?
Posted by: Steven W | October 12, 2012 at 01:27 PM
Posted by: Nigritude Ultramarine | October 12, 2012 at 01:20 PM
Andrew Cuomo is by many accounts I've heard, a vile man. And he's in Satmar's pocket.
I doubt NYS will do anything, unless hundreds of babies die. And even then Cuomo will probably weaken whatever would have been done without him.
Posted by: Shmarya | October 12, 2012 at 01:28 PM
NU - Christian Scientists aren't able to put their children at risk due to their beliefs. The safety of the child, who cannot legally consent, overrides their First Amendment rights. Same goes here. But if the rabbis want to suck each other's penises, that would be within their rights.
Posted by: Sarek | October 12, 2012 at 01:42 PM
The attorneys who are on this litigation are masterful litigators and Jones Day is an excellent firm. I do not anticipate Lewin-type conduct from these people.
They cannot be ignorant of the positions taken by medical authorities, and they must believe they have evidence that will convince a court that those positions are erroneous.
Did you get the supporting affidavits etc. from PACER? If so, it would be fascinating if you could post them.
Posted by: MarkfromShortHills | October 12, 2012 at 02:02 PM
The Department of Health would be on stronger legal ground if they prohibited the practice outright. Requiring the distribution of warning material by religious figures does implicate First Amendment rights.
Posted by: John Nagle, Silicon Valley, CA | October 12, 2012 at 02:08 PM
If there is "no danger" of infectious transmission from performing MBP, why limit its performance to "one second?" Why take precautions such as swishing the mouth with alcohol?
Why rush if MBP is such a great Mitzvah? Why in MBP do these rabbis not invoke v'khol hamarbeh harei zeh meshubokh? (whoever prolongs their involvement with the Mitzvah is praiseworthy.)
If sucking the infant' penis is so important, instead of being yoytze with the Mohels suck, perhaps the parents should give all the guests in attendance the honor of giving a little suck too.
Posted by: Fleishike Kishke | October 12, 2012 at 02:25 PM
Don’t Fight Circumcision Law
A lawsuit against New York’s ‘oral suction’ law is misguided—and would backfire against the ultra-Orthodox
By Akiva Shapiro|September 21, 2012 7:00 AM|
http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/112540/dont-fight-circumcison-law
Posted by: Veain Potzeh Peh | October 12, 2012 at 02:51 PM
I hope the state mans up when they win this case and lets these neanderthals know that if they try to skirt the law, their children will be removed from their homes and put into the system. The parents will be jailed along with the mohel.
A few arrests along with years spent trying to get your kids out of the system should put a little fear of authority into this ignorant bunch.
Posted by: Alter Kocker | October 12, 2012 at 03:09 PM
I AM A SHAMED TO BE A JEW DESPICABLE THEY ARE
Try to not take this personal. This too shall pass. Shabbos is almost here, might I suggest that you get together with your family and enjoy its holiness. A good book to get you in the spirit of things is Senator Joseph Lieberman's book "The Gift of Rest".
Posted by: Blima | October 12, 2012 at 03:11 PM
Andrew Cuomo is by many accounts I've hear, a vile man. And he's in Satmar's pocket.
I assume you say this because Hank Sheinkopf is on his payroll?
Posted by: Rebitzman | October 12, 2012 at 03:14 PM
Actually, as discussed - Hank Sheinkopf is Chabad, not Satmar.
Posted by: Rebitzman | October 12, 2012 at 03:15 PM
Believe me... reading something penned by Joe Lieberman would not put me in a state of relaxation.
Posted by: danny | October 12, 2012 at 04:29 PM
Actually, as discussed - Hank Sheinkopf is Chabad, not Satmar.
Posted by: Rebitzman | October 12, 2012 at 03:15 PM
You can discuss all you want, but Sheinkopf is NOT Chabad. He got cheap Chabad smicha, but he isn't Chabad.
Posted by: Shmarya | October 12, 2012 at 04:48 PM
Seriously, how is this not child abuse?
What's next, female genital mutilation?
Posted by: Baruch Bikini | October 13, 2012 at 06:56 PM
The Shapiro article cited above provides an excellent legal analysis.
Posted by: Wigmore | October 13, 2012 at 11:46 PM