Support Questioning of Jewish Circumcision

  • by: Jewish Circumcision Resource Center
  • recipient: media representatives and public officials in any country as appropriate, particularly during public discussion of circumcision

THIS PETITION IS FOR JEWS ONLY, IN ANY COUNTRY.
PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UNLESS YOU ARE JEWISH.

We represent Jews around the world that question circumcision. See http://www.jewishcircumcision.org.

Circumcision is receiving increased public scrutiny in various countries. In response, Jewish circumcision advocates dominate media coverage, pressure public officials to protect circumcision, and attack all circumcision critics as being anti-Semitic. Consequently, discussion of the advisability of circumcision and its effects on the child gets reduced to topics like “religious freedom.”

Briefly, circumcision is physically, sexually, and psychologically harmful to infants and men. See http://www.circumcision.org.

We aim to:

1. provide quantifiable evidence of Jewish questioning of circumcision.

2. publicly challenge and reduce the influence of Jewish advocates that pretend to speak for all Jews when they defend circumcision and ignore the harm.

3. urge international media to report fair and balanced information on how Jews feel about circumcision.

4.help to support and expand the international circumcision debate.

We ask you to sign this petition if you are Jewish, support our aims, and if you were to have a newborn son in the future, you would not allow him to be circumcised.

THIS PETITION IS FOR JEWS ONLY, IN ANY COUNTRY.
PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UNLESS YOU ARE JEWISH.

For another petition on circumcision, please see http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/urge-media-to-report-circumcision-harm/

To media representatives and public officials:



We represent Jews around the world that question circumcision (bris or brit milah). We believe that Jewish practice must be consistent with what we think and feel. We ask difficult questions and are open to new information. We understand that Jewish values place ethical behavior above doctrine. We
would not circumcise if we had a newborn son in the future.



Circumcision is receiving increased public scrutiny in various countries. In response, Jewish circumcision advocates pressure public officials to protect circumcision, dominate media coverage, and attack all circumcision critics as being anti-Semitic. Jewish circumcision advocates categorically deny or ignore any merit in professional investigations and public inquiries critical of circumcision. They also refuse to question their own beliefs or assumptions. Consequently, discussion of the advisability of circumcision and its effects on the child gets replaced with lesser concerns like “religious freedom." In actual practice, many Jews circumcise because of cultural conformity, not religious reasons.

We urge you to:



1. recognize that Jewish circumcision advocates do not speak for all Jews when they defend circumcision and ignore the harm.



2. include Jewish circumcision critics and acknowledgment of the harm when there is public questioning of circumcision.



3.collect and/or provide fair and balanced information about how Jews feel about circumcision.



There is a growing number of affiliated Jews who either have not circumcised their sons or would choose not to circumcise a future son. More Jewish women are asserting their maternal instincts to protect their children from harm. Circumcision is not universal among Jews in Europe, North America, South America, or Israel, and Jewish history includes repeated Jewish questioning of circumcision.

The child’s health and welfare should always be the priority! Most of the world instinctively rejects circumcision. Many professionals in various countries recognize that circumcision is physically, sexually, and psychologically harmful to infants and men. They view circumcision as violating basic principles of medicine, ethics, law, and human rights (references available). Some doctors refuse to perform circumcisions because of ethical considerations.

Jewish circumcision, like other forced genital cutting around the world, is dependent on the acceptance of cultural myths. The reasons and beliefs (religious or otherwise) of parents who decide to circumcise make no difference in the harm to the child!

We acknowledge the profound place that circumcision has in Jewish tradition and practice. However, we are compelled to break the silence that supports circumcision and raise important questions out of deep caring and compassion for Jews generally and Jewish male infants in particular.

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