    |
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
(Surprised? or have your own question?) 8. Reform Judaism encourages the observance of brit milah on the
eighth day. "It is a mitzvah to circumcise a male child on the eighth day, as we read in the Torah: At the age of eight days, every male among you throughout the generations shall be circumcised (Genesis l7:l2). So significant is the mitzvah of circumcision on the eighth day that tradition requires the performance of the ceremony on that day even if it falls on Shabbat or Yom Kippur. In cases where the eighth day is not possible, the rabbi should be consulted. "Circumcision may be postponed for medical reasons. If postponed, it should be held as soon as possible consistent with the health of the child. In the case of hemophilia or any other contraindication, circumcision may be indefinitely postponed. In such cases parents should arrange for appropriate prayer initiating their son into the covenant community. Such an uncircumcised Jewish male (baby) is considered a full member of the Jewish people and a participant in the brit." (Gates of Mitzvah p. l4)
Next question:
From "Understanding the Challenge of Reform Judaism: A Workshop for Teachers." UAHC, Editors: Gail Teicher Fellus and Rabbi Nina Mizrahi. Used by permission of the UAHC Press. |
||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
