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Could someone explain metzitzah b’peh? Would the circumcision of an adult male who converts include
metzitzah b’peh? How common is this practice and where did it originate?
It's an antiquated ritual that has been obsolete, and contrary to Jewish law, for a very long time.
Its use today is primarily found in ultra-orthodox groups, and is not typical. It is very rare.
What it is: after the circumcision was performed, the mohel used his mouth to create suction in order to induce blood flow from the incision. It was believed that this would prevent infection from setting in.
Modern medicine has rendered it obsolete, and antibiotics are used today.
As an adult male convert to Judaism, what is required depends on whether or not you were circumcised as an infant.
If not, then a complete circumcision is required for a halachic conversion.
If you were circumcised, then a hatafat dam brit is performed. In this case, a symbolic drop of blood is taken from the penis. Speaking from experience, this procedure is relatively painless, and the anticipation of having it done was far more unpleasant than the deed itself.
Could someone explain metzitzah b’peh? Would the circumcision of an adult male who converts include
metzitzah b’peh? How common is this practice and where did it originate?
Its only still done by the haredim. IIUC most modern orthodox poskim (legal authorities) not only do not require it, but recommend against it. It happens to be a big makloikes (yiddish for controversy, dispute) in NYC because there are a lot of haredim there, and its become a press and political issue.
Even in the hareidim and untra-orthodox communities it is rare. It is never done in the city I live in, which has a decent Orthodox population. However, I do see the the local Mohel do a version of it, but he uses a plastic pipe which he inserts around the child's freshly circusized penis, and he sucks on the other end of the pipe to create suction. I believe it's done both for the reason mentioned above, and to help "form" the wound into the correct shape. He's very quick about it and sheilds the "audience" from seeing this step, so very few take notice.
For an adult, the circumcision (if never previously done) is going to be in a sterile operating room, and no doctor in the world would allow a mohel to place his mouth near your "wound."
As for the hatafas dam bris, the only bad part of that process is not the pain (of which there is virtually none), but rather the seemingly embarrassing nature of dropping ones drawers in the presence of another person. Like a doctor, the mohel will ensure you he is a professional and does this all the time.
Could someone explain metzitzah b’peh? Would the circumcision of an adult male who converts include
metzitzah b’peh? How common is this practice and where did it originate?
It's so uncommon that none of the Jewish people I know, myself included, had ever heard of it until recently.
Thanks for all the answers on this thread. I thought this was the case, but I wasn't sure.
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