As I understand it, some of the more orthodox mohels, after having performed the circumcision, will suck the baby’s penis. Is this accurate? How common is this practice today??
What is the reason for doing this? I don’t see how it would do anything to prevent infection, as the mouth is considered to be the dirtiest part of the body. And I don’t see how it would be any more effective at stopping the bleeding than applying a bandage. Is this requirement spelled out somewhere in the Old Testament??
What would happen if a 35-year-old guy converted to orthodox Judaism and needed to be circumcised? Would his penis be sucked as well??
The practice, known as metzitzah originated well before Talmudic times. It is a method to clean the wound.
There is considerable controversy in the Jewish community today as to exactly how metzitzah should be done today and whether it requires direct application of the mouth or if some other device (such as a glass tube, for example) can be used instead.
I am not a mohel and do not really have sufficient knowledge to provide extensive answers on this topic.
Well, given that it’s an ancient practice which predates even a passing understanding of microbes, and given that any subsequent infection would merely be piled onto the list of complications that still plague the procedure, I feel compelled to say: Yeah. So?
If the process includes several vigorous mouth-washings with wine, wouldn’t the alcohol tend to disinfect the wound, negating Guinastasia’s concern? Seems like a pretty good process, since cloth bandages would have been prohibitively expensive when the process was invented.
Well, for most mouth-borne pathogens I’m sure it’d be sufficient. However, I just learned about this procedure myself recently, reading WebMD - Better information. Better health. this article.
“Today, you are a man, not that it’ll do you any good what with that mohel…”
Hardly…since we know more about it, we know what precautions to take. Have the Mohel gargle with Listerine beforehand, immediately apply antiseptic to the wound, etc. The practice is safer for our increased knowledge.
Which, cleaning the penis via sucking, or the whole process of circumcision?
Getting in Great Debate territory, here.
But most state laws regarding molestation contain language like "inappropriate touching, done for the purpose of sxual gratification…
This is intended to exempt doctors & nurses doing medical procedures, massage therapists giving treatments, high-school coaches demonstrating wrestling holds, etc. from such laws.
