Circumcision Testimony

Senator Cynthia Stone Creem
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
State House, Room 416-B
Boston, MA 02133

March 2, 2010

RE: S.B. 1777, An Act Relative to the Civil Rights of Certain Medical Procedures

Dear Chairwoman Creem:

On behalf of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the undersigned organizations and individuals, we urge you to oppose Senate Bill 1777, An Act Relative to the Civil Rights of Certain Medical Procedures, which seeks to ban circumcisions performed on males under the age of 18 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Circumcision is a practice deeply routed in major world religions and traditions.  For thousands of years, parents have chosen to ritually or medically circumcise their sons based on their customs, beliefs and preferences.  The decision to circumcise a child is and should continue to be with the parents, who are responsible for their child and for making educated, sound decisions in what they believe to be his best interest.

This bill intrudes on cultural commitments, parental choice, communal rights and above all, dramatically impinges on the free exercise of religion.  Further, it bans a practice widely accepted as medically beneficial.  Senate Bill 1777 is overreaching and potentially harmful to the Commonwealth and its citizens.  For these reasons, we strongly urge you to oppose this legislation.

Thank you for your efforts to protect the fundamental rights of parents, the work of the medical community to advance public health, and the right to freely practice a long-standing religious tradition.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Sincerely,

Nancy K. Kaufman, Executive Director
Stuart Rossman, President
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston

Barry Shrage, President
Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Arlene Schiff, Executive Director
Jewish Federation of the Berkshires

Howard Borer, Executive Director
Howard Fixler, President
Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts

Olga Yorish, Executive Director
Rabbi Raphael Kanter of Tifereth Israel in New Bedford
Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford

Meredith Dragon, Executive Director
Jewish Federation of Greater Springfield

Liz Donnenfeld, Executive Director
Jewish Federation of the North Shore

Jim Shainker, President
Massachusetts Association of Jewish Federations

Laurie Tishler-Mindlin, Executive Director
Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation

Rabbi Daniel Liben, President
Massachusetts Board of Rabbis

Richard G. Shulman, President
Alan Teperow, Executive Director
Synagogue Council of Massachusetts

Rabbi Dr. Gershon Gewirtz
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, New England

Aaron L. Kischel, District Director
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Northeast District

Rabbi Abraham Halbfinger, Director
Vaad Harabonim of Massachusetts Rabbinical Council