Questions about Judaism by Rabbi Zelizer -- September 14, 2009

Frequent questions to the Rabbi about Judaism. His answers will be appearing as Cyberthoughts over time.

QUESTION #2:

Can a person without a Brit Milah be called to the Torah?

Yes, by both Conservative and Orthodox Halachic standards. Why? Basically because all Halachic authorities rule that the child in that case is 'Anus' - which means 'forced' to be uncircumcised by his parents and should not suffer as a result of that. For example, Moshe Feinstein rules that the son whose father did not circumcise him on purpose is not considered to be 'Moomar La-Aralah' which means one who spites the mitzvah of circumcision. Since that child is not free to act on his own will, there is no use to punish him. It is our duty to bring him closer since he may someday become a good Jew.

- From a practical sense, I will tell you that it is very difficult to convince an adult teenager to have a circumcision prior to bar mitzvah. I had that experience with Russian Jews in this congregation. Nevertheless, being circumcised does not define one as a Jew. Being born to a Jewish mother or converted defines one as a Jew. Therefore an uncircumcised Jew is a 'sinning Jew' as one who does not keep kosher - but is not penalized by not calling that person to the Torah or for example a bar mitzvah.