This sheet on Genesis 17 was written by Efrat Gerber-Aran for 929 and can also be found here
It is not that I am in favor of female circumcision (I am against it), but when I read Genesis Chapter 17, I cannot ignore the gender problem that arises from the commandment to perform circumcision. Again, women do not participate in the covenant between God and the children of Abraham, and I would like to propose a midrash that will give an alternative understanding of circumcision.
In the Torah of Moses we are told “every male among you shall be circumcised” (Genesis 17:10), and it says, "that shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you" (17:11). Our (male) Sages said: “Just as circumcising the foreskin applies only to males, so too does the covenant that is ‘between Me and you’ apply only to males.”
Our female Sages objected: “Does the covenant really apply only to men? About Sarah the Torah states: ‘I will bless her so that she shall give rise to nations’ (17:16), in order to teach us that God’s blessing applies to both males and in females.”
The men concurred with the women sages and said: “Circumcision of the foreskin applies only to males, while the covenant ‘between Me and you’ applies to males and females alike.”
And what is the covenant that applies to both males and females?
It is milat halev, the circumcision of the heart, as it is written: "Cut away, therefore, the foreskin of your hearts" (Deuteronomy 10:16).
And what does milat halev, circumcision of the heart mean? This is prayer, as it says: "What is the service of God that is performed in the heart? It is prayer” (Taanit 2a).
From now on, do not say, "Circumcise, therefore, the foreskin of your hearts," but rather "and you shall verbalize (make into ‘milah’ a word, instead of a circumcision, ‘milah’) your heart." In other words, by virtue of the words we utter, our heart becomes a heart that feels and understands. It sees the people around us and understands their pain.
At a covenantal birth ceremony, whether for a girl or a boy, we should pray - "May it be Your will, that You circumcise the thickening of our hearts so that we shall see the other, the weak and the estranged, who are nevertheless created in Your image according to Your likeness. Grant this baby girl or baby boy a heart that feels and understands. Blessed are You, God, who circumcises our hearts.”
In the Torah of Moses we are told “every male among you shall be circumcised” (Genesis 17:10), and it says, "that shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you" (17:11). Our (male) Sages said: “Just as circumcising the foreskin applies only to males, so too does the covenant that is ‘between Me and you’ apply only to males.”
Our female Sages objected: “Does the covenant really apply only to men? About Sarah the Torah states: ‘I will bless her so that she shall give rise to nations’ (17:16), in order to teach us that God’s blessing applies to both males and in females.”
The men concurred with the women sages and said: “Circumcision of the foreskin applies only to males, while the covenant ‘between Me and you’ applies to males and females alike.”
And what is the covenant that applies to both males and females?
It is milat halev, the circumcision of the heart, as it is written: "Cut away, therefore, the foreskin of your hearts" (Deuteronomy 10:16).
And what does milat halev, circumcision of the heart mean? This is prayer, as it says: "What is the service of God that is performed in the heart? It is prayer” (Taanit 2a).
From now on, do not say, "Circumcise, therefore, the foreskin of your hearts," but rather "and you shall verbalize (make into ‘milah’ a word, instead of a circumcision, ‘milah’) your heart." In other words, by virtue of the words we utter, our heart becomes a heart that feels and understands. It sees the people around us and understands their pain.
At a covenantal birth ceremony, whether for a girl or a boy, we should pray - "May it be Your will, that You circumcise the thickening of our hearts so that we shall see the other, the weak and the estranged, who are nevertheless created in Your image according to Your likeness. Grant this baby girl or baby boy a heart that feels and understands. Blessed are You, God, who circumcises our hearts.”
Efrat Gerber-Aran is an analyst, a writing seminar facilitator and social activist
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