Lech Lecha; Genesis 11:1-17:27 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger

There is no more powerful symbol of Jewish belonging than the rite of circumcision. For boys and men, this sacred sign embedded in the very flesh of the penis is a physical and daily reminder of the bond of the sacred covenant between God and the Jewish people.

Circumcision is performed when a male child is eight days old at the ceremony of Brit Milah, The commandment to circumcise comes directly from this week’s Torah portion. Chapter 17 of Lech Lecha describes this sealing of the covenant in flesh and the command to do this on the eighth day (17:12) is found there. Today’s ceremony of Brit Milah not only includes the rite of circumcision but the granting of a Hebrew name to the newly born male child. This too echoes the words of this week’s Torah portion, because in addition to God’s command to circumcise is Abram’s name change—from Abram to Abraham another sign of the covenant with God.

So too Abram’s wife Sarai, is granted a name change—to Sarah. Tradition teaches that Sarah also underwent physical changes at this moment of covenant making. Her inability to get pregnant—her barrenness is overcome at this very moment to fertility.

Thus the covenant God makes with Abraham and Sarah are linked forever to fertility. God’s covenant promises to make Abraham the father of many nations, exceedingly numerous (Gen 17:2-4).

The rite of circumcision has come under attack in recent years, as barbaric and unnecessary. Many articles have been written from the medical viewpoint about whether or not circumcision is healthier for men and their sexual partners.

And yet, for the Jewish people, this ancient symbol is not about medicine. It is about faith. The inclusion of ones’ son in the historic link of the Jewish people dating back to Abraham opens to one’s male child all of the riches of our heritage. It is an inheritance of values and ethics and of justice. This inheritance of righteousness is not too big for even the littlest among us—the week old child! The brit milah ceremony welcomes your son into the peoplehood of Israel and the inheritance of Torah that is rightfully his. No one can question his authenticity as a Jew.

For our girl children, I am happy that increasingly families are welcoming their daughters into the covenant of Abraham and Sarah with special ceremonies. The Brit Banot—covenant of the Daughters ceremony should also be done on the eighth day, welcomed into the peoplehood of Israel with by granting of a Hebrew name and with symbols of Jewish womanhood—water and candles.

In this way all of our children should be celebrated as the next link in the chain from Abraham and Sarah to the future of the Jewish people—m’dor l’dor—from generation to generation.

Posted by Lee at October 19, 2004 11:23 AM