These strange times we live in since the outbreak of COVID-19 have meant sacrifices for many of us. Instead of seeing friends and family many of us have instead been forced to bunker down in self isolation and make the most of indoor activities.
One notable change is that of low-priority surgery. To mitigate the risk of contracting the disease many health services have cancelled appointments. This is true for the UK, and several other countries too.
Despite this policy of avoiding obvious potential for danger and blindingly obvious risks, some officials within the Jewish community have stressed their dangerous opinions. They reiterate the cultural importance to continue with circumcision.
Ordinarily we criticise the practice using an evidence and ethics based approach, but this level of foolishness exposes a fundamental truth in addressing this issue.
Risks do not matter.
Harm does not matter.
Only circumcision matters.
We must remember this when trying to enact changes to policy, and that the ethical considerations do not always matter to some of the more zealous within religious and cultural institutions. Needless to say that this bull headed approach is not shared by all within the community and some have suspended the practice. We hope this will spare rather than delay the procedure for the boys born during this recent crisis.
A quote in a statement from the Association of Reform & Liberal Mohalim:
“In light of the current Covid-19 pandemic, the Association considers that the preferable course is to suspend all circumcision activity for the present time… Such a difficult decision has not been made lightly, but we believe it is in keeping with the overriding Jewish value of pikuach nefesh (preserving life). We will of course be reviewing this decision regularly.”
Naturally, orthodox communities are staying steadfast to their traditions regardless of endangerment to the children and their families.
There is a great deal of appeasement that is granted to the communities that perform circumcision. This has created an illogical precedent. If we care more for religious impositions on others more than we care about harm prevention then where do we draw the line? This is the same attitude taken in other countries that allow female genital mutilation; culture comes first, safety comes second.
We hope that this shows the level of fanaticism that is present and how caution is thrown to the wind, even in these uncertain times.
Hopefully, there won’t be any deaths as a result, but you will have to forgive the skepticism due to these influential religious authority figures espousing such an attitude in an antithesis to public health. We hope that members of the communities practicing this potentially harmful practice will realise the absolute danger present to their children under the present circumstances if no other.
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