Say Psalms To Avert The Evil Decree, Haredi Rabbis Say

This kol koreh, rabbinic proclamation, is a request for everyone to designate Sunday for saying psalms to avert the "decree" against the haredi community by New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene requiring parents of newborn boys to sign an informed consent document about the dangers of metzitzah b'peh (MBP), the mouth-to-bleeding-penis suction done by many haredi mohels.

MBP caused epidemics and waves of deaths in the 1800s and was stopped in many locations where health statistics were kept, including most of Lithuania where many rabbis forbade the practice. Antibiotics later reduced the risk, but now the Herpes Simplex Virus has been transmitted to babies through MBP, killing several, leaving at least one with severe brain damage, and hospitalizing others. Babies have very weak immune systems, and there is no effective way to prevent HSV-1 (or other virus or bacterial infection) transmission when doing MBP.

Hasidim, however, led by Satmar and Chabad, and some non-hasidic haredim led by Rabbi Yisroel Belsky pf Torah Vodaas, refuse to stop the practice, and are suing the city over the informed consent requirement. The federal court begins to hear the case next week.

Here's the entire kol koreh followed by closeups of some of the smaller text:

Comments

[Sugarplum]

"mouth-to-bleeding-penis" - I thought this was a purely recreational activity.

But more importantly, if you were bitten by a copperhead snake on the penis, would you want your buddy all tied up in paperwork, or would you want him to jump in and suck the venom right out of your pecker without batting an eyelash.

[Sarek]

It also works against the evil eye, the evil empire, and evil twins. Not sure if it works against Evel Knievel.

[Eugene siS]

Any car service driver who works around Brooklyn's Frum communities can tell you why metzitzah b'peh is bad idea.

[aa apple]

A Federal Court judge already blocked the city from implementing this decree.

[Shmarya]

A Federal Court judge already blocked the city from implementing this decree.

Posted by: aa apple | December 14, 2012 at 01:13 PM

Not true.

The city offered to delay the implementation of the law until the judge could consider a motion from Satmar and Agudah. The judge agreed and issued an order.

That hearing would have already taken place, but the hurricane delayed it until next week.

[Eli]

I'll say tehillim so this WILL be enacted