Circumcision & Name changes - part 1

Genesis 17:1

Torah Study with Rabbi Rosenwaser

Set up – name of God – El Shadai
God of the Mountains

Robert Altar – Exodus 6:3 God talks to Moses – Parallel to here where God talks to Abram
Rashi – Shadai = Dyanu = It would have been enough
signals of strength form somewhere else.

Name change – Abraham = father of multitudes

Why Circumcision?
It was a widespread practice in other cultures of the time – also a passage of puberty
Adding the covenant attached to it makes it different.

Robert Altar – 3 part interpretation

1. promise
2. circumcision
3. name change
   

Dr. Ross De Hovitz – a perspective on circumcision from his practice:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1070737/?tool=pubmed

Rabbi Adam noted another point of view – Jews Against Circumcision
http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/ - Letter from a father
“I write this letter to explain to you and my family & community why I choose not to perform a circumcision upon you.“

A lot of opinions from this...