Infant Has Right To Be Circumcised Against Mother’s Wishes, Rabbis’ Attorney Says

"The petitioner is not doing a good thing, demanding to instill in her toddler a feeling of being an outsider that could cause him to feel inferior and to suffer serious emotional harm. The petitioner is not looking out for the boy's best interest. It is the child's right not to be different from his circumcised friends.…"

Infant Has Right To Be Circumcised Against Mother’s Wishes, Rabbis’ Attorney Says
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

An attorney advising a state rabbinical court wrote in an advisory letter that it was an infant boy’s “right” to be circumcised to save him from ostracism by his peers that “could cause him to feel inferior and to suffer serious emotional harm,” Israel HaYom reported.

The letter was written by attorney Shimon Yaakobi in response to a High Court of Justice petition by the boy’s mother asking that a rabbinical court ruling issued in her divorce case ordering her to circumcise the boy be overturned on constitutional grounds.

The High Court previously put a temporary hold on the rabbinical court’s order to fine the woman 500 shekels ($142) per day for every day that she refuses to have her son circumcised.

Yaakobi argues the High Court was wrong to stay the rabbinical court’s order and says the child – who is still too young to talk – has the “right” to be circumcised immediately.

"The petitioner is not doing a good thing, demanding to instill in her toddler a feeling of being an outsider that could cause him to feel inferior and to suffer serious emotional harm. The petitioner is not looking out for the boy's best interest. It is the child's right not to be different from his circumcised friends.

"The child's right and his best interest to be circumcised, like every Jewish boy in Israel, cannot be sacrificed, against his father's wishes, on the altar of the petitioner's right to religious freedom.

"My stance is that the appeal should be rejected and the interim order delaying the court's judgment should be cancelled. The child was born to a Jewish Israeli family. In another year or two, the child will go to nursery school, and there he will be surrounded by circumcised boys. It is no secret that toddlers notice everything that is different," Yaakobi wrote.

Comments

[jancsibacsi]

It is the childs righ to give permission since he is unable the smartest thing is to wait until the child himself gives the right to circumcission thats the most ligical thing to do ask permission from him.

[Philadelinquency.com]

So I'm guessing boys everywhere show their penises to the world? Who the hell would know if you're cut or not in grade school?

[rocky]

I hope the mother's attorney read the story about the baby boy in Pittsburgh who was the victim of a botched circumcision.

[dapper danny]

The mother should seek asylum in her choice of European countries in order to protect her and her child from forced genital mutilation. I'm completely serious.

[seymour]

so another words in every other country the goverment should be able to say you cannot circumcise him since he will be different than everybody els

[harold]

This demonstrates what a fraud ritual circumcision is. Why is there no mention of all the alleged health benefits of circumcision?

The only right that's involved in this matter is the right of the boy to be left alone until he's old enough to decide for himself.

I hope the mother does go to Europe and claim asylum. Maybe it will force all these groups who wring their hands over female genital mutilation to take a stand against male genital mutilation. Why are they so silent about this matter?

[S M L]

Only in Israel is this idiocy capable of taking place or even of being envisioned.

[Yochanan Lavie]

As a believer, I believe in brit milah (no MBP , and preferably by a mohel who is also an MD). But I can never condone religious coercion. It is inherently wrong and also causes sinat chinam. John Milton was a very religious man, but he argues in Areopagatica that God doesn't want insincere, coerced obedience; he wants us to love him of our free will. God is not Kim Jong-Un in heaven, who delights in choreographed shows of loyalty.

[ah-pee-chorus]

YL for chief Rabbi....until they abolish it.

no offense to the current resident of the OCR our very own OFFICE OF THE CHIEF RABBI.

[Yochanan Lavie]

OCR can be Askenazi and I can be Sephardic, or vice-versa.

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

I'm Ashkenazi Tahor

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

But I'm a Sfardic wannabee. Currently plannng a trip to North Africa, inshallah ان
شاء للة

[Jeff]

"John Milton was a very religious man, but he argues in Areopagatica that God doesn't want insincere, coerced obedience; he wants us to love him of our free will."

YL, if there are dire postmortem consequences for not believing, then it isn't a free will choice (leaving aside the issue of whether or not free will exists in the first place, which is a very difficult concept to argue for).

[Yochanan Lavie]

Jeff; We don't if there is, or is not. I'm sure you're familiar with Pascal's wager. Maybe Pascal is wrong, and a truly merciful god would not punish a good person simply for not believing in her. Religion is just a framework meant to help people find meaning and lead a good life; not an end in itself.