Jewish, Muslim circumcisions more humane
Lara Loewenstein wrongly contends that Jewish and Muslim ritual
male circumcisions are tantamount to African tribal female
circumcisions, saying both exemplify dreadful genital manipulations
(“Cut circumcision out of the American culture,” April
4).
In the Jewish tradition, newborn boys are circumcised on their
eighth day of life in a ritual circumcision known as a brit milah
or bris milah in which the infant enters the Abrahamic covenant
(Genesis 17:9-14).
In the Muslim tradition, the ritual male circumcision, known as
khitan, happens at different times by various customs, and reflects
the sunnah, or precedent of the Prophet Mohammed, who reportedly
was circumcised and advocated male circumcision (Hadith Bukhari
7:72:777-779).
While removal of the clitoral prepuce, the hood of the clitoris,
parallels a male circumcision, African tribal rituals in which the
entire clitoris and labia are removed parallel male castration. The
term “female circumcision” is a misnomer, as it refers
to both of these surgeries.
Moreover, I find Loewenstein’s suggestion that ritual male
circumcision is a human rights violation, like her previous
implication that oral sex has become part of many bar mitzvah
receptions (“Oral sex should be more openly discussed for
safety,” March 14) insensitive and offensive.
Andy Green President, UCLA Jewish Student
Union