Q&A: They Did Not Circumcise the Grandson
They Did Not Circumcise the Grandson
Question
Rabbi Michi
Hello,
This is the situation: one of the family members (Modern Haredi) went off the religious path and married a woman of Ukrainian background who immigrated to Israel at age 8–9.
The family’s relationship with the son and his wife is maintained with love and affection, without difficulty.
Recently they had a baby boy, and the parents announced, rather "festively," that they are not doing a circumcision for their son, for a "variety of reasons" (pagan, we are forbidden to harm him, etc.).
As stated, we are dealing with a large Haredi family with many sons and grandchildren.
The embarrassment now is great—I know that the Rabbi does not give psychological advice and is concerned with practical halakhic answers—
therefore I ask: is there any ruling / Jewish law / line of thought about how to act? Is there any point in showing him displeasure over the fact that his son is uncircumcised?
Or should this matter simply be left alone? (It may be that if he understands that not circumcising his son could sever the relationship with the family members, he will back down from his refusal.)
With respect,
Ron
Answer
I don’t know how to answer this. A threat makes sense only if there is a chance it will have an effect. Actually cutting off the relationship is definitely not right. The fact that they are not circumcising is, in principle, no different from Sabbath desecration or eating non-kosher food.
Discussion on Answer
It has nothing to do with the father. The son will be circumcised by a God-fearing mohel. What difference does it make what the father thinks?
Because perhaps in other times there was meaning to the religious court’s obligation to circumcise the child. But nowadays, when that possibility does not exist in reality, the matter of the son’s circumcision is entrusted to the father alone.
I didn’t understand that remark (aside from the fact that it is of course incorrect).
Thank you very much.. but I admit I’m left no less perplexed..
That is, in this matter does the Rabbi have an initial thought that there is some point in trying to influence them by way of a threat so that the son will be circumcised—even though it would be a mere mechanical act on the father’s part?