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Written on: 11. 07. 2012 [12:37]
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ehudbandel
Ehud Bandel
registered since: 13.02.2011
Posts: 1
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The ruling of the district court in Cologne banning circumcision reignited the debate about freedom of religion, the right of parents to raise their children in accordance with their religious practices and the medical benefits/risks of male circumcision.
The excellent booklet written by our President Dr. Debbie Weissman addresses all these topics. However, there is one element that perhaps needs our attention when we discuss this issue within the context of an interfaith dialogue aiming to reach better understanding between different faith traditions.
I refer to the notion of religion and faith as a mystery. There is a Jewish outlook which emphasizes the idea that the whole point of circumcision is something, which goes beyond nature. The Maharal of Prague (Judah Loew ben Bezalel 1520 – 1609) writes:
"Circumcision which God gave to Israel is above nature, and therefore, it is performed on the eighth day, because the seven days of the Creation are the seven days of nature, for the natural world was created in seven days. The eighth, however, is above nature – for according to the natural course, a child should remain uncircumcised, but Milah - circumcision, is above nature" (Maharal, Gevurot Hashem, Ch. 40).
In every single religious tradition, there are elements that go beyond nature and therefore cannot be defended by reason only. Tolerance and respect for other faiths, require the understanding and the acceptance of the fact that for the believer, there is a mysterious aspect that is beyond any reasonable, logical explanation, (for example, example the concept of the incarnation to the Christian believer) and as long as this practice or belief is not harmful to others, then we should respect the right of the believer to hold to his or her faith.
I have mentioned this point to Debbie when she wrote the first draftof her booklet. She decided not to include this point and to remain within the realm of rational arguments. Her point was that those who oppose male circumcision say it is a practice based on myths, and that she does not want to add weight to this approach.
That might be so, but I thought that for our internal ICCJ forum, this point is worthy of our consideration.
Ehud Bandel
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