This is an excerpt from an article by Nelly Karsenty that appeared in Humanistic Judaism, 1988, and appears to be a quote used by Karsenty rather than her own words. The excerpt, whilst brief, is interesting for its allusion to the hostility provoked among American Jews by a mother's doubts concerning the validity of the Brit Milah. It is not possible to determine from this excerpt alone, however, precisely who these "American Jews" were or how widely their hostility might be reproduced elsewhere in the American Jewish Community, or why. The entire article, however, is available from the address given.

This explanation of the Brit Milah is divided into five main sections: (i) 'Day & Time'; (ii) 'The Ceremony'; (iii) 'Naming'; (iv) 'Special Considerations'; and (v) 'Customs.' The section 'Special Considerations' includes a discussion of the requirements for the child of Jewish and non-Jewish parentage in which the mother is non-Jewish. In such instances the child's religion is determined by that of the mother.

By Rabbi Moshe Shulman, this page consists in six main sections: (i) 'The History of the Brit Milah'; (ii) 'Qualifications for the Mohel' (the circumciser); (iii) 'The Brit Milah Ceremony'; (iv) 'Procedure and Anaesthetic'; (v) 'Where and When?'; and (vi) 'Baby Naming.'

This page highlights the current controversy among Jews concerning the validity of circumcision, and provides several links to more detailed discussions on the subject. Two of these are particularly useful for the contemporary context: (i) 'Questioning Jewish Circumcision'; and (ii) 'Current News About Jewish Circumcision.'

This description of the Brit Milah includes the blessings of the Mohel (the ritual circumciser) and of the father, as well as the prayer used for naming the child.

From this page one may link to a number of articles within the site concerning the Brit Milah. These articles include, for example, the planning of the Brit Milah, the day of the Brit, and the full text of the ceremony, excepting textual variations found among Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Yemenite traditions.