# Where Did The Practice Of Sucking The Bloody Penis After Circumcising It Originate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 28, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489 "2004-09-28T15:03:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/1 "2004-09-28T15:03:47Z")
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?? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/2 "2004-09-28T15:10:58Z")
I have no information but I just find this question hilarious coming from someone who’s location reads “Gobbler’s knob” ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/3 "2004-09-28T15:37:15Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > 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?? Dude, you can’t be _that_ desperate for a blow job. :dubious: I’d welcome a serious answer to this tho’. It sounds like one of those “heathen savage” type rumors which should be sqaushed… ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/4 "2004-09-28T16:02:59Z")
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. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/5 "2004-09-28T16:26:04Z")
I see now why Mom discouraged me from becoming a _mohel_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/6 "2004-09-28T16:48:19Z")
Wouldn’t that actually be highly unsanitary? Considering what a breeding ground for bacteria our mouths are. ---
**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 28, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/7 "2004-09-28T16:54:05Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Wouldn’t that actually be highly unsanitary? Considering what a breeding ground for bacteria our mouths are. 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? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/8 "2004-09-28T16:57:34Z")
I did find what appears to be an accurate [description](http://www.uwm.edu/People/corre/buxdorf/chp2.html) of the process: > [@](#): > > [The _Mohel_] quickly throws the piece of foreskin in the little bowl with sand (now the boy takes back the circumcision-knife) reaches for the cup of wine, takes a mouthful, sprays the child with it, cleans the blood away, sprays some on the face in case of weakness, takes after that the child’s member in his mouth and sucks out the blood and ejects it into the wine-cup or into the bowl with sand. He repeats this at least three times. In Hebrew it is called _Mezizah_, which Moses did not command, but was ordered by the _Rabbonim_ or wise Jews. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/9 "2004-09-28T17:01:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/10 "2004-09-28T17:31:02Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > 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.](http://my.webmd.com/content/article/91/101352.htm) this article. “Today, you are a man, not that it’ll do you any good what with that mohel…” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/11 "2004-09-28T17:47:52Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > 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? > > 🙂 I realize that. I’m saying, that to continue practicing it today, would that not be unwise, given what we know about bacteria? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/12 "2004-09-28T18:13:05Z")
Guinastasia: > [@](#): > > I realize that. I’m saying, that to continue practicing it today, would that not be unwise, given what we know about bacteria? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/13 "2004-09-28T18:24:48Z")
Fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/14 "2004-09-28T19:40:03Z")
Would this not be considered molestation? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/15 "2004-09-28T19:46:34Z")
Why did they do this? What was the significance of him doing it with his mouth instead of a cloth? I can’t help but find this icky. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/16 "2004-09-28T20:29:20Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > Would this not be considered molestation? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/17 "2004-09-28T20:32:59Z")
What if you convert as an adult? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/18 "2004-09-28T20:45:49Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > Would this not be considered molestation? Nah, more like mohelestation. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/19 "2004-09-28T22:32:15Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Nah, more like mohelestation. I’d say it’d be making a mountebank out of a mohel. 😃 And hey, I never got to use this one before: ;j … ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489/20 "2004-09-28T23:16:06Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > And hey, I never got to use this one before: ;j … I never _did_ get why that one was around. Why not an Irish one? Maybe :drunk:? /me ducks [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-practice-of-sucking-the-bloody-penis-after-circumcising-it-originate/266489.md?page=2)