# What Do Mohels Do With the Foreskins? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 3, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992 "2004-09-03T18:11:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/1 "2004-09-03T18:11:22Z")
I’m assuming that a full-blown Jewish circumcision (as opposed to a run-of-the-mill Christian circumcision done in a hospital) complete with a Mohel and all that is done at the baby’s home. If so, what does the Mohel do with the foreskin? Is there a ritual destruction sequence in which it is burned or something? Just thrown in the family trash? Does he keep it in a scrapbook (and pass it around at the boy’s Bar Mitzvah 13 years later)? I hope no one take offense at these questions. I’d hate to see someone making a mountain out of a Mohel. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/2 "2004-09-03T18:21:37Z")
Lets just say you should stay away from the onion rings at bar mitzvahs. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/3 "2004-09-03T18:32:24Z")
[The Retired Mohel](http://members.tripod.com/~jewishjokes/retired-mohel-wallet2suitcase.htm) > [@](#): > > Rabbi Meir Leib, a well known and respected Mohel, decided to finally retire after 50 years of service to the Jewish community. One oddity about the Rabbi, was that after every circumcision, he saved the pieces of foreskin he cut off. After so many years, and thousands of Brises, his collection was enormous. > > One day, the Rabbi happened upon a leathersmith’s shop. The Rabbi brought with him, ten shopping bags full of foreskins. > > “What can I do for you today Rabbi”? Asked the shopowner > > “Vell, I tell you vat you can do for me, I have here a remembrance of my many years as a Mohel. I vant you to make for me something nice. A lampshade or something.” replied the Rabbi. > > “Don’t worry Rabbi, I’ll make you something special, come back next week” promised the leathersmith > > The following week, the Rabbi returned to the leathersmith’s shop, quite excited to see what was made for him. > > “Nu, you make something for me?” asked the Rabbi > > “Yes, of course Rabbi, here it is”, says the shopowner as he hands the Rabbi a small, flat, square box. > > As the Rabbi opens the box, his small tired eyes suddenly grew large and he shouted, “VAT IS DIS? TEN BAGS OF FORESKINS I BRING TO YOU, AND ALL I GET OUT OF IT IS A SMALL VALLET? HOW CAN YOU DO DIS TO ME??”, tears began forming in the Rabbi’s eyes. > > “Take it easy Rabbi, Please! It may look like a wallet, but if you stroke it, it turns into a suitcase” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/4 "2004-09-03T19:07:54Z")
Do mohels work for tips? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/5 "2004-09-03T19:44:50Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Does he keep it in a scrapbook (and pass it around at the boy’s Bar Mitzvah 13 years later)? In one famous case, one was supposedly kept as a souvenir and even paraded around for a couple of millenia, until it was stolen by thieves in 1983. [The Holy Foreskin](http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Holy_Prepuce) ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/6 "2004-09-04T00:14:01Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > In one famous case, one was supposedly kept as a souvenir and even paraded around for a couple of millenia, until it was stolen by thieves in 1983. > [The Holy Foreskin](http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Holy_Prepuce) Does The True Cross of Jesus Exist Today? [From another post in GQ] It is my firm belief that if Jehovah God wanted for man to have the true cross and/or the fragments of it, or the FORESKIN of JESUS in the hands of men today He would have made sure that they would have more than adequate authentication. Since there is no such authentication, such parts are nothing more nor less than pieces of wood or mummified flesh. Even the location of the tomb is in doubt for the same reason. A very good reson for no authentication of the cross, FORESKIN of JESUS, holy grail, the ark, etc. is that men would worship that which they can see and touch than the Infinite God which must be worshiped in faith. The focus of the Holy Bible is on Jesus and His teachings, not physical remnants of his presence on earth. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/7 "2004-09-04T00:18:53Z")
Calamari. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/8 "2004-09-04T00:19:04Z")
You’ve heard of [moleskin](http://www.coolantarctica.com/Shop/antarctica-clothing/antarctica-arctic-clothes-moleskin-ventile.htm) fabric? Well, that’s a slight euphemism, and moles have nothing to do with it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/9 "2004-09-04T00:20:22Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Calamari. Listen, when those superintelligent giant squid perfect their land claims, are **you** going to be in trouble! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/10 "2004-09-04T00:20:28Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > A very good reson for no authentication of the cross, FORESKIN of JESUS, holy grail, the ark, etc. is that men would worship that which they can see and touch than the Infinite God which must be worshiped in faith. > > The focus of the Holy Bible is on Jesus and His teachings, not physical remnants of his presence on earth. [HIJACK] Nuts. Any shred of authenticatible (???) proof of the existence of God would result in my immediate recognition of said diety’s existence. I’m a bit below average in intelligence, an idiot in fact, and even I can understand the difference between a physical object and a supreme being–and could direct my worship appropriately. [/HIJACK] Now, really. What the hell \*do \* they do with the damned things? Have we no Jewish parents here? ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/11 "2004-09-04T00:34:08Z")
Well, I don’t know for certain myself, but the mere fact that somebody out there takes seriously the notion that there may be a Holy Foreskin relic makes me think that perhaps some parents are given the foreskin to keep as a memento. Somebody must keep it. If it is or was routine for the foreskin to be burned or discarded or whatever, the mere concept of a Holy Foreskin would be beyond absurd. “What good Jewish mother and father keeps around a foreskin? What a load of _loshken_!” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/12 "2004-09-04T00:43:42Z")
Small-fry stir-fry, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/13 "2004-09-04T00:44:12Z")
You know, since it’s past sundown on Friday all our best Jewish authorities are incommunicado (at least Internet-wise) until tomorrow night. ;j Maybe someone should give this a bump and nudge early Sunday morning, hmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/14 "2004-09-04T01:13:49Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > Since there is no such authentication, such parts are nothing more nor less than pieces of wood or mummified flesh. Humph! At least one example of the Holy Foreskin was quite convincingly authenticated: > [@](#): > > The authenticity of the Holy Foreskin claimed by the St. John Lateran church in Rome is said to have been proven in 1527 when the troops of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V sacked Rome. The relic fell into their hands for a time, and was allegedly put to the test by bringing a virgin girl before it, whereupon the foreskin enlarged, as it seems would have been expected in such circumstances. Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/15 "2004-09-04T01:17:17Z")
Are we to believe, then, that if J.C. Himself had a virgin brought before him, something still attached would be enlarging as well? ---
**Author:** ![quothz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/da6949/32.png) [@quothz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quothz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/16 "2004-09-04T01:56:57Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > A very good reson for no authentication of the cross, FORESKIN of JESUS, holy grail, the ark, etc. is that men would worship that which they can see and touch than the Infinite God which must be worshiped in faith. Well, I might offer an [alternative explanation](http://69.20.125.245/columns/030404.html) for the Holy Grail. As to the original question, I dunno. In _This\_Is\_My\_God_, Wouk notes that tradition prefers for the father to perform the circumcision, but a mohel is appointed “in universal practice”. He notes also the prevalence of allowing hospital surgeons to perform the operation (and condemns it). He is sadly silent as to the disposition of the foreskin, but my WAG would be that it usually ends up in the biowaste bin. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/17 "2004-09-04T02:13:51Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Humph! At least one example of the Holy Foreskin was quite convincingly authenticated: > > Quote: > The authenticity of the Holy Foreskin claimed by the St. John Lateran church in Rome is said to have been proven in 1527 when the troops of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V sacked Rome. The relic fell into their hands for a time, and was allegedly put to the test by bringing a virgin girl before it, whereupon **the foreskin enlarged** , as it seems would have been expected in such circumstances. > > Works for me. If this enlargement really happened, then it WAS NOT the foreskin of Jesus who was without sin. At the expense of repeating myself if Jehovah God wished it to be worshiped etc. He would have made adequate authentication available for all to see! The focus of the Holy Bible is on Jesus and His teachings, not physical remnants of his presence on earth ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/18 "2004-09-04T02:15:54Z")
[Disposition of ablated prepuce.](http://www.male-initiation.net/library/surround/hastings.html#c) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/19 "2004-09-04T02:33:25Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > If this enlargement really happened, then it WAS NOT the foreskin of Jesus who was without sin. It’s a sin to get an erection? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992/20 "2004-09-04T02:37:38Z")
January 1, for those of you who might care, is the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, as briefly related in Luke 2:21. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992.md?page=2)