Nifty!

[debka_notion]

I just read a teshuva from the CJLS about Conversion without a bris in a case where the bris would be potentially life threatening. It was an interesting and clear read (the answer was: currently no). But there was a footnote talking about circumcision by laser, and how that may make it possible, thus solving the problem in some cases. I enjoy such speculation...

Comments

[wilperegrine.livejournal.com]

You enjoy speculation about.... Never mind.

Did it mention a concrete example of a time when circumcision would be life-threatening? I'm drawing a blank. Extreme extreme anemia? Emergency conversion in an all-too-accurate Civil War reenactment field hospital?

[tirerim.livejournal.com]

Hemophilia? That's about all I can think of. But now it makes me curious about the doctrine for babies for whom a bris would be life-threatening (ignoring the possible use of lasers).

[rav-hadassah.livejournal.com]

There are cases of hemophilia in the Talmud: when two sons die at their Bris, the parents are no longer obligated to circumcise the third.

Although with current hemophilia medication, I wonder if it is still life-threatening to be cut... Don't know, not my field of expertise.

[shirei-shibolim.livejournal.com]

I wonder about the laser thing as a solution to the problem for hemophiliacs. Isn't there a requirement that some blood be drawn in order for the bris to be kosher?

[taylweaver.livejournal.com]

Well, I suppose that would then be a 2-step process: step 1 - laser, step 2 - hatafat dam. Does a hemopheliac have a total lack of platelets or just fewer of them? Because a tiny puncture wound should be easier stop bleeding from is my guess.

[shirei-shibolim.livejournal.com]

Hemophilia is a group of genetic disorders, all of which result in the near or complete inability to stop bleeding. It has to do with the absence of certain clotting factors, not platelets themselves.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

I think hemophiliacs these days inject the missing clotting factors on a regular basis, with larger injections when they hurt themselves. So I imagine that with a combination of laser and then just hatafat dam brit, it would be pretty reasonable. I don't know- maybe they could even do a regular bris with the proper injections beforehand, although I doubt that they'd have the whole routine set up and stable enough to do it at 8 days old...

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Oops. I meant I enjoy speculation about the ways the future and halakha might interact.

But I think that people's suggestions of hemophilia are much of what is being thought of, although I imagine that there might be other situations as well.