Hasidic rabbis had an emergency meeting with an attorney last night in Williamsburg to discuss what is about to be a crisis over metzitzah b'peh (MBP) the direct oral-to genital sucking done by the mohel to the baby's bleeding penis just after the circumcision is completed. MBP is primarily confined to hasidic circumcisions. MBP can kill babies. (At least 2 have died from MBP-transmitted Herpes in NYC over the past 11 years alone.) More frequently it causes brain damage or otherwise sickens them. Another baby now lies hospitalized with a Herpes infection from MBP, and the rabbis realize that MBP may be about to be banned or, as some hasidim think, the government will mandate that all circumcisions with or without MBP be done in a sterile hospital setting.
Here's what MBP looks like. In this case, it's being done by a Modern Orthodox mohel in Israel, where MBP among non-haredim is much more common than it is in the US:
The Rabbis at last night's meeting held in the CRC headquarters in Williamsburg. Both Satmar Rebbes attended:
A closeup showing from left to right – the Pupa Rebbe; Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum, Kiryas Joel Satmar Rebbe;
Rabbi Israel Hagar (Son of the Monsey Viznitz Rebbe);
and Rabbi Zalmen Teitelbaum; Williamsburg Satmar Rebbe:
