Tuesday, June 27, 2006
More Mohel News
After a hiatus, we once again wade into the very uncomfortable waters of metzitah b'feh, the controversial circumcision ritual in which the practitioner, or mohel, sucks the blood from the circumcision to clean the wound. The practice has resulted in the death of at least one child from herpes.
A blog called The Canonist has acquired a letter sent by the city's Health Commissioner, Thomas Frieden, to his counterpart on the state level, Antonia Novello, criticizing the state's protocol to prevent the transmission of herpes from mohels to infants.
Frieden, who has circulated advisories in Yiddish warning of the dangers of the practice, notes in the letter that the state's protocol "does not mention any role for local health officers" and makes clear that his department "does not intend to cede its authority to investigate disease incidence occurring in New York City and to intervene when appropriate."
It's worth noting that back in January, the Central Rabbinical Council asked Frieden to do just that - cede his authority to the state health department, which they assumed would be less aggressive on the issue. The city's criticism of the practice grew into a full out campaign issue in some Orthodox sections of Brooklyn, where some Satmar members bristled at City Hall's interference in what they considered a religious rite (and right). Before Bloomberg's reelection there was even talk of a deal, in which the city would decrease their pressure in exchange for political support.
But according to the letter, Frieden hasn't backed down and is still on the case. He takes issue with language in the state's protocol that suggests that a community could by justified in not cooperating with an investigation into an alleged transmission of the disease. "There is absolutely no justification for not cooperating in an investigation surrounding a potentially life-threatening illness in an infant."
Perhaps the most troubling element of the letter, however, is what Frieden calls his "fourth fundamental concern" with the protocol:
"That the children of parents for whom metzitzah b'peh is not considered religiously necessary may undergo this procedure without the knowledge and/or request of both parents."
http://thepoliticker.observer.com/2006/06/more-mohel-news.html
After a hiatus, we once again wade into the very uncomfortable waters of metzitah b'feh, the controversial circumcision ritual in which the practitioner, or mohel, sucks the blood from the circumcision to clean the wound. The practice has resulted in the death of at least one child from herpes.
A blog called The Canonist has acquired a letter sent by the city's Health Commissioner, Thomas Frieden, to his counterpart on the state level, Antonia Novello, criticizing the state's protocol to prevent the transmission of herpes from mohels to infants.
Frieden, who has circulated advisories in Yiddish warning of the dangers of the practice, notes in the letter that the state's protocol "does not mention any role for local health officers" and makes clear that his department "does not intend to cede its authority to investigate disease incidence occurring in New York City and to intervene when appropriate."
It's worth noting that back in January, the Central Rabbinical Council asked Frieden to do just that - cede his authority to the state health department, which they assumed would be less aggressive on the issue. The city's criticism of the practice grew into a full out campaign issue in some Orthodox sections of Brooklyn, where some Satmar members bristled at City Hall's interference in what they considered a religious rite (and right). Before Bloomberg's reelection there was even talk of a deal, in which the city would decrease their pressure in exchange for political support.
But according to the letter, Frieden hasn't backed down and is still on the case. He takes issue with language in the state's protocol that suggests that a community could by justified in not cooperating with an investigation into an alleged transmission of the disease. "There is absolutely no justification for not cooperating in an investigation surrounding a potentially life-threatening illness in an infant."
Perhaps the most troubling element of the letter, however, is what Frieden calls his "fourth fundamental concern" with the protocol:
"That the children of parents for whom metzitzah b'peh is not considered religiously necessary may undergo this procedure without the knowledge and/or request of both parents."
http://thepoliticker.observer.com/2006/06/more-mohel-news.html
Comments:
V'reshaim K'yam nigresh , hashket lo yochlu(tehillim) this guy is the scum of the earth. y'mach shmo v'zichro
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: June 28, 2006 4:15 PM
: June 28, 2006 4:15 PM
There are rumors of another unconfirmed case of in fant Herpes transmission in NY due to Metzitza bepeh. This shows that any agreement reached between the department of health and the "Rabonim" are not worth the paper it is written on.
Let me reitirate for the umpteenth time:
MBP is a primitive outdated procedure with absolutely no firm basis in Halacha. With our contemporary advanced knowledge in medicine there is absolutely no justification for its continuation!
It seems that these Rabbis have overlooked a very important halachic aspect and that even a sfek sfeka of Pikuach Nefesh over rides almost all mitzvahs of the Torah.
Whatever happened to "chamira sakanta meisura"?
Where have we gone wrong? why do we let Hungarian degenerates dicatate Torah to us?
Not to mention what a horrible chillul hashem this is turning out to be.
Post a Comment
Let me reitirate for the umpteenth time:
MBP is a primitive outdated procedure with absolutely no firm basis in Halacha. With our contemporary advanced knowledge in medicine there is absolutely no justification for its continuation!
It seems that these Rabbis have overlooked a very important halachic aspect and that even a sfek sfeka of Pikuach Nefesh over rides almost all mitzvahs of the Torah.
Whatever happened to "chamira sakanta meisura"?
Where have we gone wrong? why do we let Hungarian degenerates dicatate Torah to us?
Not to mention what a horrible chillul hashem this is turning out to be.
