Photo: Cheskel Dovid
Late last month a German court banned circumcision of young boys – even for religious purposes. Last year, the City of San Francisco briefly had a circumcision ban on the ballot before a judge forced its removal from consideration.
But Genesis 17:11-12 commands us:
You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin and that shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. And throughout the generations, every mal among you shall be circumcised at the age of eight days.
Jews continue to circumcise our sons on the eighth day as we have since the time God commanded Abraham. Even in the darkest times in Jewish history – through crusades, expulsions, and inquisitions – and in the darkest places – in ghettos and death camps – we have followed this commandment. Rabbi Ephraim Oshry, a Lithuanian rabbi who survived the Holocaust and was able to write down and recover his answers to the horrifying, painful Jewish legal questions that arose in the ghettos and the camps, published a book called Responsa from the Holocaust. In it, among the heart-rending stories, he tells of a woman who asked if she could circumcise her son before the eighth day because, though he was born healthy, she knew she could not keep him warm and nourished enough to live out a full week.
Leaving aside the disgraceful imagery of a German court (of all countries) attempting to impose such a ban, those who would try to stop Jews from circumcising our sons should understand that our people have performed the commandment of milah (ritual circumcision) in far worse conditions than under threat from a court.
What do you think?
7:44 pm
God did not make a mistake when He created a baby boys genitals–WHOLE!! Circumcision has NO health benefits–it was for a chosen people as a sign. When gentiles cut away what God put there–aren’t we
8:53 pm
Gentiles should never be brought into this picture of circumcision–it is for the Jews alone and between them and God and yes, I do pity the baby boys, there is nothing cute with a cut organ and only
6:34 am
In this day and age, I still have mistrust for a country that used to be called Nazi Germany and what they did to my family during the Holocaust and will not buy anything if I can help it from a country called Germany….
6:54 pm
So, in Germany you can’t Circumcise a child, but you can abort it. Which one brings more harm to the child ?
1:57 am
arisen had it not been for the operation being done on a Muslim boy of five or so, which left him dangerously ill and having to be placed in intensive care in hospital a week after the event
1:56 am
Let’s get a bit of context into this, can we? I can quite see the religious argument in favour of circumcision and the irony of Germany’s involvement. But the fact is that this case would never have
6:06 pm
I certainly do find it odd that a western European country like Germany, which has been inundated by Muslims who also circumcise, could get away with such a law. Of those hordes of immigrants I would imagine some would be German citizens. How strange.
8:28 am
Where does Germany stand on Female Genital Mutilation by muslims?
7:15 am
Please, let me know which Court or High Court in Germany passed this ban. Has the German Govt. passed this ban or some little court in one of the many Federal States of Germany?I find it hard to believe that any Federal Court in Germany would even want to go that way.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Blessings,
Renate
UK Partner
5:45 am
I am very sad to hear this as this is exactly the type of thing that used to happen under the Hitler regime. My brother-in-law was circumcised and he is not Jewish so it can have health benefits!
4:25 am
This the thin edge of the wedge!What will folllow?
10:56 pm
When Germany thinks it can take over and replace God, then command the Jews and anyone else who decides to follow His commands…Germany will suffer far worse than WWI and II. God will Judge them.
10:54 pm
When God commands you to obey Him, He means what He says and He says what He means. He commanded the Jews to circumcise the male children on the 8th day and as of yet has not recalled His command.
9:38 pm
Who do the judges in the German court, think they are, to erase, make void a 4000 yr old commandment that defines a nation. Mere men thinking themselves wise are nothing but fools, for punching the ALMIGHTY in the eye. Wait and see what comes upon them. They think they are striking the Jews but their friends whom they bend over for, also circumise and they also won’t go for this new law………When the law of the land goes against GOD”S law , we obey GOD’S Law.
9:08 pm
This is only the beginning! The Word of the Living God says in the Last Days Matt 24:1-34.How life will be lived out,How the world will turn against us, brothers and sisters will turn against parents.
8:59 pm
I am not Jew, but in my heart I am and we as believer’s have to follow our Creator commands, not a man commands they are ignorant our Creator have mercy of them.
7:27 pm
the “Hi Hitler” people is on the rise again..
7:24 pm
This need to “ban” someone else’s lawful-practices comes from so-called “liberal” thinking. It is the same rationale which told – and still tells – Jews and Christians alike they don’t need arms for self-protection. This line of thought is the first step to genocide.
If you doube this conclusion, look at the data: All the wars in the entire 20th century killed roughly 33-million armed-combatants. During the same century some 165-million unarmed civilians were murdered by their own governments.
6:45 pm
Germans persecution of the Jews renewed
5:23 pm
Times like these is when civil disobedience comes in. It worked for Dr. King and the civil rights movement, it will work for us. We will stand firm and follow God and not the religion of man.
5:14 pm
We must follow God not men. I believe He is returning soon, and after the rapture of His people it will be worst. Courts will condemn Jews and all new Christians alike. We must follow Him no matter what. Men are but fools.
2:36 pm
Nazi-ism certainly is on the rise again – in Germany. Will they never learn?
7:47 pm
I agree with you-this is despicble conduct of Germany who has done everything possible to undo the work of Adolph Hitler. WE will circumcise our Sons according to the law of Moses and Israel.You will not stop us.
2:29 pm
I think that German need to butt off and not control anybody, especially the jews. Even the Christian are circumcised. What’s the different? I think that German and Iran needs to shake hands.
3:04 pm
I am not surprised about anything the Germans or any enemy of the cross of Christ do. God’s word has prepared us for much worse and it is coming right at us. We just need to study it in more detail.The Enemy is very busy and when we cannot be reached in one way, then it tries the other. Hold fast. Jesus is coming soon. God Bless the people of Israel. Love.
3:09 pm
Germany and Iran shook hands before and during the Holocaust, so it wouldn’t be the first time.
1:39 pm
The Government, needs to back off! They are WAY over-stepping their boundaries when their DICTATING how to raise our children! America is just as bad-if not worse! Government is to be subject and submitted to God…not trying to be God!!! The Peoples in this case, are going to obey God! Hands down…I would too. Even though through Jesus, circumcision is no longer necessary, but circumcision I think is good anyways-Just ignorant and way out there!!! Shame on Germany period! I am only sorry I have German blood most of the time. Thank-you LORD that the precious blood of Jesus takes away the sin of the world… We only need to ask Jesus to forgive our sins, and come into our Hearts to live within us. He is a gentle, loving, caring more than all-God!!! Jesus you are all in all and everything good and just!
1:33 pm
I am embarassed for the German’s and for thei court. Who or what got to these Justices and why was there a ruling anyway. Did somebody sue. Better a circucision after 8 days than the Moslem 13 years.
1:22 pm
Men are healthier when circumcised. Blood coagulates on the 8th day better than any other time of life. Circumcision prevents smegma (sp). The wives of circumcised husbands have far less cervical and uterin cancers. What more can you ask for. Obey God! It’s always best.
1:41 pm
Well said!!! I truly did not know about the Cancer-yes, always better to obey God! Great post! God bless you…
2:28 pm
My sister is a nurse and when I mentioned that I’d heard that circumcision meant less cervical cancer for the wives of Jewish men she said it was common knowledge. God is good and to be obeyed. Amen
1:20 pm
i continue to learn more and more about the ways of G_d and i am stunned at the beaty and infinate wisdom hidden in this ritual. i would definately defy any decision against it! a german court is again on the wrong side of our creator. does germany shake its fist at the all mighty??
1:16 pm
The Gentiles circumcise too. My family does it!! I remember when my little brother, who is 11 years younger than me, was born, and I asked what’s circumcision? So, I learned at an early age. Katie.
1:15 pm
But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circumcission is that of the heart, inthe Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but that of God,(Romans2:29). 1 corinthians7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
1:54 pm
I am sure you are quoting correctly but our Halacha is to circumcize the foreskin on the boys 8th day and that is our covenant which we follow
2:34 pm
Yes, obeying the commandment is what matters, and Genesis 17, 11-12 is that commandment. Further your greek/westernised interpretation of Paul`s teaching on this matter is wrong. Allgentiles have misunderstood what paul was aiming at here. Paul never, repeat never forbade or disobeyed the shomering of Torah!.
12:51 pm
the Government should not be able to make that decision for anyone….
12:35 pm
Although governments may pass laws as they deem proper, a free society must respect harmless religious convictions. God’s moral law will always trump human laws. This decision is a travesty.
12:34 pm
maybe we should all get together and ban all courts from interfering with our contitutional rights,and our god given rights,any court that goes against us is in judgement by god himself.
12:27 pm
We are told to obey the authority of those set over us. For ADONIA has set them in place to rule.having said that, we are to obey G-D over man when it is contrary to G-D’s law.Obey G-D!
12:25 pm
Utterly wrong to impose a ban. I hope and pray that there will be sufficient outcry to cause these misguided people to reverse their decision.
12:22 pm
The German Court should mind their own business! What gives them the right to dictate to Jews on the matter of circumcision. It’s simply none of their business!
12:17 pm
Obey God rather than men.If Jews succumb to this threat from an earthly court it will be the beginning of the undermining of your faith.
12:14 pm
I’m not a Jew, but the decision of that court from Germany is a brutal offense to God who orders to the Jews people to do that.
12:02 pm
Gods knowledge is far above any ignorant or sane judge.
12:02 pm
I think that the Government needs to butt out – This proceedure is not just a covenant practice, but it also has tremendous health benefits to both male and female.
12:19 am
Go circumcise on the 8th day at whatever cost.No compromise,No negotiation, No thinking twice….Go !.