Leonard B. Glick
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- July 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195176742
- eISBN:
- 9780199835621
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019517674X.003.0008
- Subject:
- Religion, Judaism
During the 20th century, circumcision became increasingly popular, promoted as protection against cancer of the penis, prostate, and cervix. Although Jewish-American physicians were especially ...
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During the 20th century, circumcision became increasingly popular, promoted as protection against cancer of the penis, prostate, and cervix. Although Jewish-American physicians were especially prominent advocates, probably the most important development was medicalization of childbirth and the introduction of circumcision in hospitals as a routine procedure following delivery. A seemingly endless controversy continued into the later decades of the century, with some physicians rejecting circumcision as both worthless and harmful, while others continued to maintain that this “hygienic” practice protected against numerous diseases, including urinary tract infection and HIV. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued statements probably unique in medical history: recommending against routine circumcision but granting the right of parents to request the surgery to accord with “cultural, religious, and ethnic traditions”.Less
During the 20th century, circumcision became increasingly popular, promoted as protection against cancer of the penis, prostate, and cervix. Although Jewish-American physicians were especially prominent advocates, probably the most important development was medicalization of childbirth and the introduction of circumcision in hospitals as a routine procedure following delivery. A seemingly endless controversy continued into the later decades of the century, with some physicians rejecting circumcision as both worthless and harmful, while others continued to maintain that this “hygienic” practice protected against numerous diseases, including urinary tract infection and HIV. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued statements probably unique in medical history: recommending against routine circumcision but granting the right of parents to request the surgery to accord with “cultural, religious, and ethnic traditions”.
Leonard B. Glick
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- July 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195176742
- eISBN:
- 9780199835621
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019517674X.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Judaism
In a surprising development in British and American medical history, circumcision became medicalized in the final decades of the 19th century. It was transformed from a ritual practice exclusive to ...
More
In a surprising development in British and American medical history, circumcision became medicalized in the final decades of the 19th century. It was transformed from a ritual practice exclusive to Judaism into a medical procedure adopted by British and American physicians, and widely accepted by the entire population. Some physicians advocated it as a preventive for masturbation, as well as for numerous afflictions ranging from epilepsy and spastic paralysis to syphilis and cancer. A few claimed that Moses had been a great “sanitarian” who introduced ritual circumcision because he understood its medical value. Some Jewish American physicians called for better supervision of mohels, whom they accused of ignorance about aseptic surgical technique. A California physician named Peter Remondino published a book of flowery prose praising circumcision as a near-miraculous medical discovery; his book was widely read and cited.Less
In a surprising development in British and American medical history, circumcision became medicalized in the final decades of the 19th century. It was transformed from a ritual practice exclusive to Judaism into a medical procedure adopted by British and American physicians, and widely accepted by the entire population. Some physicians advocated it as a preventive for masturbation, as well as for numerous afflictions ranging from epilepsy and spastic paralysis to syphilis and cancer. A few claimed that Moses had been a great “sanitarian” who introduced ritual circumcision because he understood its medical value. Some Jewish American physicians called for better supervision of mohels, whom they accused of ignorance about aseptic surgical technique. A California physician named Peter Remondino published a book of flowery prose praising circumcision as a near-miraculous medical discovery; his book was widely read and cited.
Leonard B. Glick
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- July 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195176742
- eISBN:
- 9780199835621
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019517674X.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Judaism
This book traces the history of male infant circumcision from its origins in ancient Judea, through centuries of Christian condemnation and Jewish defense, to its current role in American culture and ...
More
This book traces the history of male infant circumcision from its origins in ancient Judea, through centuries of Christian condemnation and Jewish defense, to its current role in American culture and medical practice. Genesis 17 is the biblical text where infant circumcision was mandated by Judean priests in the 6th century BCE; they characterized it as confirming a covenant, but the deeper meaning of the practice was male supremacy and dominance. Early Christians vehemently rejected circumcision, while Jews defended it with equal vigor in the Talmud and other rabbinic texts. The circumcision rite, embellished by folk practices and raised to new heights of significance by Jewish mystics, evolved into its contemporary form in medieval and early modern Europe. Meanwhile, Christian theological writings and medieval European folk beliefs — including those connected with fantasies about ritual murder — contributed to the enduring negative image of circumcision in the non-Jewish world. In the modern period, a few Jews began to question circumcision for the first time. In Germany, where Reform Judaism originated, German-Jewish physicians debated whether ritual circumcision should be either modified or eliminated. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, infant circumcision became a widely accepted medical practice in Britain and the United States, not as a ritual practice but as a preventive or therapeutic procedure. A key element in the new attitude to circumcision was the belief that the practice explained Jewish health and longevity. In the United States, Jewish physicians became especially prominent advocates for the practice, but physicians throughout the country endorsed it with equal enthusiasm. The contemporary circumcision debate in America finds expression in a wide variety of media: most notably, fiction, guides to Jewish parenting, and television sitcoms. The book closes with an epilogue assessing whether circumcision is beneficial or harmful, and whether parents have the right to request genital alteration for their infants or children.Less
This book traces the history of male infant circumcision from its origins in ancient Judea, through centuries of Christian condemnation and Jewish defense, to its current role in American culture and medical practice. Genesis 17 is the biblical text where infant circumcision was mandated by Judean priests in the 6th century BCE; they characterized it as confirming a covenant, but the deeper meaning of the practice was male supremacy and dominance. Early Christians vehemently rejected circumcision, while Jews defended it with equal vigor in the Talmud and other rabbinic texts. The circumcision rite, embellished by folk practices and raised to new heights of significance by Jewish mystics, evolved into its contemporary form in medieval and early modern Europe. Meanwhile, Christian theological writings and medieval European folk beliefs — including those connected with fantasies about ritual murder — contributed to the enduring negative image of circumcision in the non-Jewish world. In the modern period, a few Jews began to question circumcision for the first time. In Germany, where Reform Judaism originated, German-Jewish physicians debated whether ritual circumcision should be either modified or eliminated. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, infant circumcision became a widely accepted medical practice in Britain and the United States, not as a ritual practice but as a preventive or therapeutic procedure. A key element in the new attitude to circumcision was the belief that the practice explained Jewish health and longevity. In the United States, Jewish physicians became especially prominent advocates for the practice, but physicians throughout the country endorsed it with equal enthusiasm. The contemporary circumcision debate in America finds expression in a wide variety of media: most notably, fiction, guides to Jewish parenting, and television sitcoms. The book closes with an epilogue assessing whether circumcision is beneficial or harmful, and whether parents have the right to request genital alteration for their infants or children.
