I read your piece in The Week about your decision to have your son circumcised.
As a Jew (just a few yrs. older than you are) I must admit I breathed a sigh of relief at the end of your story. I know it was an extremely difficult day - especially for your wife who obviously doesn't identify with the ancient Jewish tradition.
For what it's worth, I have a friend, Gene whose father was Jewish; Gene was raised Christian, but identifies with his Jewish side, too. When he and his non-Jewish wife had their first son last year at the age of 50, they decided to have him circumcised. Gene wanted to do it in case his son "decides he wants to be Jewish."
I also have a Christian friend who's a nurse; she fully supports the procedure, stating that her male patients who aren't circumcised often have to be cleaned, and that much dirt - and other things get under the foreskin.
I hope that if you have another son, you'll find a Reform or Conservative mohel to perform the brit at home. There will be no cold metal tables and no straps - just loving family and an expert at our ancient tradition and "covenant."
Neal, I've been to several "brisses," and the babies barely cry. The mohel dabs a bit of sweet wine on the baby's gums and he's fine.
By the way, did you know that there are 613 mitvot (http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm), and that circumcision is one of them? I'm not Orthodox, but I do know my Judaica. :-)
Bravo to you for having the courage to recognize the importance of passing on this tradition.
Ok, I am in the process of reading your book. I actually work in a book store and ended up with an advance reader's edition. I'm highly amused!
But I do need to comment on the whole "circumcision" issue and the comment made before me. I'm not Jewish, let's just make that clear. In fact, I'm not religious at all. I will never understand why a man's penis needs to be circumcised in order to be considered Jewish. Is your mentallity going to all of a sudden go Christian because you still have your foreskin? I just don't get it.
Now, Devil's advocate...I had my son circumcised. He is now 8 years old and has no traumatization because of it and everything functions just fine.
My fiance is not circumcised. I asked him if we ever had a son what he would want. He said he'd have him circumcised because it's a pain in the a**. You have to be much more aware of cleaning and a quick soapy hand doesn't do it. I hate to get to detaild, but something as simple as wearing a condom becomes a little bit more tricky, otherwise it would be very uncomfortable.
All in all, I think your son will be happy that you did it, but not because he's half Jewish, just because it's one less thing to deal with. Okay, I'm off to go read more of your book. Enjoy fatherhood!!!
Neal, if it's any comfort, you and Regina made the right decision. My dad lost his penis four years ago to cancer -- he'd never been circumcised, which directly contributed to the cancer's development. Now it's spread through the rest of his body. You can take comfort in knowing this will never happen to Elijah.
WTF?? that last pro-circumcision comment takes the cake - if you don't get circumcised you will get penis cancer and die!
I'm curious why so many people (especially women who really have no right to an opinion on this matter) are so keen for other people to circumcise their kids.
The way I see it is that nature (or god) gave you a foreskin for a reason - enjoy it!
neal,
Im not shure if you read the comments or not,I hope so i just wanted to tell you how much i loved "Alternadas" it was a great book. i also wanted to say im happy that you and Regina desided to get Elijah circumcised.becouse well you know.The hole time i read the book i wondered why you didn't have any pics of Regina in the book??? I also whanted to say that i enjoyed the cover of the book.lol even tho you don't juge a book by it cover,the cover atracts people to the book when its just sitting on the shelf."i love rubber duckys" now that i read "Alternadad" im going to read the rest of you books......well...
gotta runn
my best wishes go to you Neal,Regina,and Elijah.god bless you all.And let the world carry you were you need to go in life,the wold a beautiful place.
sincerly,
Tabatha L.C.
A.k.a
Tabbywabby
neal,
Im not shure if you read the comments or not,I hope so i just wanted to tell you how much i loved "Alternadas" it was a great book. i also wanted to say im happy that you and Regina desided to get Elijah circumcised.becouse well you know.The hole time i read the book i wondered why you didn't have any pics of Regina in the book??? I also whanted to say that i enjoyed the cover of the book.lol even tho you don't juge a book by it cover,the cover atracts people to the book when its just sitting on the shelf."i love rubber duckys" now that i read "Alternadad" im going to read the rest of you books......well...
gotta runn
my best wishes go to you Neal,Regina,and Elijah.god bless you all.And let the world carry you were you need to go in life,the wold a beautiful place.
sincerly,
T.L.C
A.k.a
Tabbywabby
Comments
Hi, Neal (my husband's name).
I read your piece in The Week about your decision to have your son circumcised.
As a Jew (just a few yrs. older than you are) I must admit I breathed a sigh of relief at the end of your story. I know it was an extremely difficult day - especially for your wife who obviously doesn't identify with the ancient Jewish tradition.
For what it's worth, I have a friend, Gene whose father was Jewish; Gene was raised Christian, but identifies with his Jewish side, too. When he and his non-Jewish wife had their first son last year at the age of 50, they decided to have him circumcised. Gene wanted to do it in case his son "decides he wants to be Jewish."
I also have a Christian friend who's a nurse; she fully supports the procedure, stating that her male patients who aren't circumcised often have to be cleaned, and that much dirt - and other things get under the foreskin.
I hope that if you have another son, you'll find a Reform or Conservative mohel to perform the brit at home. There will be no cold metal tables and no straps - just loving family and an expert at our ancient tradition and "covenant."
Neal, I've been to several "brisses," and the babies barely cry. The mohel dabs a bit of sweet wine on the baby's gums and he's fine.
By the way, did you know that there are 613 mitvot (http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm), and that circumcision is one of them? I'm not Orthodox, but I do know my Judaica. :-)
Bravo to you for having the courage to recognize the importance of passing on this tradition.
Posted by: Leann | March 24, 2007 3:07 PM
You do realize the Aquabats are a terrible band, right?
Posted by: Ben | March 29, 2007 5:30 PM
John Denver is punk rock.
Posted by: Will | March 30, 2007 8:03 AM
Ok, I am in the process of reading your book. I actually work in a book store and ended up with an advance reader's edition. I'm highly amused!
But I do need to comment on the whole "circumcision" issue and the comment made before me. I'm not Jewish, let's just make that clear. In fact, I'm not religious at all. I will never understand why a man's penis needs to be circumcised in order to be considered Jewish. Is your mentallity going to all of a sudden go Christian because you still have your foreskin? I just don't get it.
Now, Devil's advocate...I had my son circumcised. He is now 8 years old and has no traumatization because of it and everything functions just fine.
My fiance is not circumcised. I asked him if we ever had a son what he would want. He said he'd have him circumcised because it's a pain in the a**. You have to be much more aware of cleaning and a quick soapy hand doesn't do it. I hate to get to detaild, but something as simple as wearing a condom becomes a little bit more tricky, otherwise it would be very uncomfortable.
All in all, I think your son will be happy that you did it, but not because he's half Jewish, just because it's one less thing to deal with. Okay, I'm off to go read more of your book. Enjoy fatherhood!!!
Erica
Posted by: Erica | April 17, 2007 7:31 AM
Smegma!
Bless you.
Posted by: Will | April 28, 2007 11:28 AM
Neal, if it's any comfort, you and Regina made the right decision. My dad lost his penis four years ago to cancer -- he'd never been circumcised, which directly contributed to the cancer's development. Now it's spread through the rest of his body. You can take comfort in knowing this will never happen to Elijah.
Posted by: madam pince | May 8, 2007 8:45 PM
WTF?? that last pro-circumcision comment takes the cake - if you don't get circumcised you will get penis cancer and die!
I'm curious why so many people (especially women who really have no right to an opinion on this matter) are so keen for other people to circumcise their kids.
The way I see it is that nature (or god) gave you a foreskin for a reason - enjoy it!
Posted by: fredo | July 29, 2007 11:07 AM
neal,
Im not shure if you read the comments or not,I hope so i just wanted to tell you how much i loved "Alternadas" it was a great book. i also wanted to say im happy that you and Regina desided to get Elijah circumcised.becouse well you know.The hole time i read the book i wondered why you didn't have any pics of Regina in the book??? I also whanted to say that i enjoyed the cover of the book.lol even tho you don't juge a book by it cover,the cover atracts people to the book when its just sitting on the shelf."i love rubber duckys" now that i read "Alternadad" im going to read the rest of you books......well...
gotta runn
my best wishes go to you Neal,Regina,and Elijah.god bless you all.And let the world carry you were you need to go in life,the wold a beautiful place.
sincerly,
Tabatha L.C.
A.k.a
Tabbywabby
Posted by: Tabbywabby | August 9, 2007 3:16 PM
neal,
Im not shure if you read the comments or not,I hope so i just wanted to tell you how much i loved "Alternadas" it was a great book. i also wanted to say im happy that you and Regina desided to get Elijah circumcised.becouse well you know.The hole time i read the book i wondered why you didn't have any pics of Regina in the book??? I also whanted to say that i enjoyed the cover of the book.lol even tho you don't juge a book by it cover,the cover atracts people to the book when its just sitting on the shelf."i love rubber duckys" now that i read "Alternadad" im going to read the rest of you books......well...
gotta runn
my best wishes go to you Neal,Regina,and Elijah.god bless you all.And let the world carry you were you need to go in life,the wold a beautiful place.
sincerly,
T.L.C
A.k.a
Tabbywabby
Posted by: Tabbywabby | August 9, 2007 3:17 PM