I'm already Jewish, so this is a non issue for me. But one thing i have always heard was that when a non Jew converts to Judaism, and he's a male, that if he converts that he must have the hatafat dam brit if he was already circumcised correctly. Every time i hear hatafat dam brit, small painless poke is always in the same sentence along with it. Is it really painless? That area must be alot more sensitive than lets say an arm or something that gets pokes and shots all the time. If anyone has gone though the procedure, is it really painless? Also, how does it go? Are you in an operating table with three men standing around you watching to see if a drop of blood leaves the site or something?
About this topic
- Posted by whatsnu 9 months ago. There are 12 posts. The latest reply is from rponting74.
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Here's a comedy sketch by JBC Aaron Freeman that talks about his experience with this ritual:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgeVu5EZIJM -
My case? Bridal prep room of my temple. Mohel (who is also an MD, may he be blessed for doing such a great mitzvah for me) and myself. I Didn't feel a thing. My conversion was Reform, so I don't know if other traditions have more people around. I was prepared for something similar to when I prick my finger to test my blood sugar, but the mohel has so much experience, and uses such a sharp scalpel that if he hadn't shown me the blood on the gauze I would not have believed it. The nick was so small and shallow that there wasn't even a scab afterwards. I would say it is similar to when you cut yourself shaving with a new blade and don't even notice it until you see the blood. Was I nervous? You bet I was. ;)
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I believe that witnesses of the "hatafat dam brit" are required for Conservative and Orthodox conversions. In the case of a minyan friend whose beit din for conversion consisted of two Conservative rabbis and and an Orthodox sofer, the first stick did not produce a drop of blood. To which my friend quipped "Doth not a Jew bleed?" (Quoting Shylock in "Merchant of Venice" for those of you not up on your Shakespeare.)
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That was a very helpful post, Zeev. I also thought it would be like the test where you draw blood to test blood sugar levels.
It was kind of you to inform people with such empathy. I'd be surprised if anyone wasn't nervous before a hatafat dam brit or mila. -
Oh my gosh, Debbie! I love that video you posted! Thanks.
I have a male relative who had the "painless drop of blood" drawn - he said it was no big deal.
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Oh my gosh, Debbie! I love that video you posted! Thanks.
I have a male relative who had the "painless drop of blood" drawn - he said it was no big deal.
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Vashti: Glad you enjoyed the video. I think Aaron Freeman is very funny and I hope to meet him at the Limmud Chicago in February where he is going to be presenter.
Israel Campbell is another JBC comedian who gets a lot of mileage from his conversion experiences:
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I had my conversion ceremony, including hatafat dam brit yesterday. While I won't say that the stick is painless, it's a lot less painful then you might imagine. For me the immersion was more stressful (i'm claustraphobic).
Today I went to evening mincha and counted towards the minyan! -
ps: I would say if can deal with getting a flu vaccine or a tetnus shot or having lab work done, thisa is a piece of cake.
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Mazel Tov Kippah!
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The expulsion was only valid during the pass4sure 642-845 lifetime of the king, and after Edward died Jews would have been able to seep in (if they weren't already back.)Would they have practised pass4sure 642-436 Judaism differently (more low key), or been similar to Sephardi conversos?Oliver Cromwell simply made it possible for Jews (already resident in the City of London) to be allowed to have a place of prayer pass4sure E20-001 there. The City of London refers to the small core/financial heart of London, and not the entire city.The audiences of Shakespeare and Marlowe would have not have been totally unfamiliar with pass4sure 350-029 the phenomenon: Jews, when they watched the plays 'Merchant of Venice' and 'The Jew of Malta.'
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