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March 02, 2007
Ritual Self-Slaughter
I read Alvin Rosenfeld's essay, "'Progressive' Jewish Thought and the New Anti-Semitism" this evening. My colleagues have covered the major points in depth, but one passage in the essay amazed me -- "New Rituals of Dissent."
Rosenfeld writes about Jews who incorporate anti-Zionist aspects into traditional Jewish observances, such as Sukkot and brit milahs. One couple declared at their son's bris:
"We are thrilled to pronounce you a Jew without the Right of Return. Your name contains our deep hope that you will explore and celebrate your Jewish identity without confusing it with nationalism."
My question: If the couple is so intent on separating identity from nationalism, why did they circumcise their son in the first place? Surely, as progressives, they must know that circumcision is a barbaric symbol of national identity, a "covenant" meant to distinguish Jews from everybody else and therefore an exclusionist, racist signifier of everything wrong about being Jewish? Well, isn't that so? Shouldn't they do an anti-circumcision ritual, pledging a no-cut covenant with all the oppressed species of Gaia?
What kind of lame progressives are they? Don't they realize that their traumatized child may grow, because of this identification with his fellow Jews, to become a (gasp) ZIONIST?
Oh, the horror for progressive parents.
Van | 03/02/07 at 07:22 AM | Categories: - Antisemitism watch
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Comments
Without circumcision, how else to make their red-diaper baby's diaper red?
Attila (Pillage Idiot) | March 2, 2007 12:46 PM
If the couple is so intent on separating identity from nationalism, why did they circumcise their son in the first place?
To reduce the risk of his getting AIDS?
Male circumcision reduces the risk that men will contract HIV ...>
Cynic ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keshertalk.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 2, 2007 02:43 PM
They can say what they want, they can posture as they like, but if the mother is Jewish then the kid has the right of return. I can only hope that while one day he may want it, he will not need it. But given the corpus of Jewish history, you never know. I'm sure glad I have that right.
Alex Bensky | March 5, 2007 10:11 PM
