Thursday, June 16, 2011

Shelach 5771

Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shelach

15 Sivan 5771/June 17, 2011

Pirkei Avos – Chapter 2

“Efforts to ban circumcision gain traction.” The aforementioned headline is not a quote from a 1933 German newspaper or a 1920 Russian newspaper. The last two words of the headline read “in California” and is actually a quote from a New York Times article dated June 4, 2011. Welcome to progressive and liberal America, 2011.

Truth be told, it come as no shock that San Francisco, the very city which first legalized same-gender unions is now bonding together to “protect children from an unnecessary medical procedure” which they term “male genital mutilation”. It’s no coincidence that the same city which legalized immoral and sinful living has a problem with an ancient religious ritual which symbolizes morality and self-control.

Although a human being is created with incredible brilliance and intricate detail, he is far from perfect. His mission in life is to strive for perfection borne out of Torah observance and living a moral and elite lifestyle. Circumcision is an innate reminder that sometimes we must ‘cut away’ from our desires to achieve self control (see Tanchuma, beginning of parshas Tazria). It comes as no surprise that those who advocate freedom from scruples and morals oppose circumcision.

Perhaps you’ll argue that the proposed ban has nothing to do with morals and symbolisms. Maybe we will even contend that the vile comic books that have been circulated which depict the villain named ‘Monster Mohel’ have nothing to do with anti-Semitism, and that these are simply earnest individuals who are advocating for exercising “Human rights” and “protecting these innocent boys”. But before doing so please read on.

In truth, I am thinking of beginning my own campaign to ‘protect our children’. I feel that it is disgraceful that in liberal progressive America today parents are allowed to have the ears of their infant daughters pierced. This ‘feminine lobular mutilation’ is simply horrendous and we must put an immediate stop to it. How can we allow young baby girl’s ears to be pierced just for the sake of ‘aesthetic cuteness’? I propose that a girl should be at least 18 years old before she can decide about getting her earlobes pierced (naval rings are okay at 8 years of age).

I am skeptical that I won’t be able to acquire the requisite signatures for such a proposal to even be raised. It seems most people feel that the momentary pain which leaves no permanent damage to the infant’s ear is well worth it, considering how adorable and cute she’ll look in those charming little earrings. Yes it may be painful for a moment but there are always certain special things in life we are willing to endure some suffering in order to achieve.

Apparently circumcision is totally different. Why? Perhaps it has more to do with what circumcision symbolizes than it does about “male mutilation”!

Welcome to progressive San Francisco 2011, o’er the land of the free hypocrites and the home of the morally depraved!

Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,

R’ Dani and Chani Staum