{"product_id":"the-covenant-of-circumcision-new-perspectives-on-an-ancient-jewish-rite-hbi-series-on-jewish-women","title":"The Covenant of Circumcision: New Perspectives on an Ancient Jewish Rite (HBI Series on Jewish Women)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAccording to Jewish law  the ritual practice of circumcising male infants signals the male childs entry into the covenant his forefather Abraham made with God. Circumcision  now a common medical procedure for male infants in the United States  has come under increased scrutiny in recent years. Some medical professionals have challenged its purported health benefits  ethicists have raised concerns about the degree of pain involved  and Jewish feminists have questioned the implications of a covenantal rite centered on the male genitals. The sixteen essays in this volume  by exploring the history  cultural interpretations  and contemporary significance of circumcision from a Jewish perspective  make a major contribution to the informed discussion of current issues and controversies. Framed by Elizabeth Wyner Marks introduction and section prologues  the volume is divided into three distinct sections. Reading the Texts  a series of richly conceptualized essays  places circumcision in contexts ranging from patriarchal narrative to psychoanalysis and kabbalistic esotericism. Cultural Markings offers a chronological look at attitudes toward circumcision in Europe during the Roman Empire through the early twentieth century. Contemporary Voices  the most intimate section  delves into recent debates about circumcision in the United States  Hungary  and Israel and provides three different rabbinic perspectives. An imaginative epilogue bringing together the voices of rabbis and scholars with opposing views concludes this remarkable volume.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44949446852661,"sku":"ByrdShop_1584653078","price":92.15,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781584653073.jpg?v=1770076830","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-covenant-of-circumcision-new-perspectives-on-an-ancient-jewish-rite-hbi-series-on-jewish-women","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}