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From our new Showcase Collection. Starting Grade.
goodness," he said, laughing.
A Judaic studies major during his
days at the University of Michigan,
Cooper began his latest endeavor
shortly after finishing his studies at
Wayne State University School of
Medicine. As a resident in Hartford,
Conn., the young doctor performed
hundreds of circumcisions on new-
born boys. Then a friend asked him to
perform the bris of his son.
Cooper found out through the
Union of American Hebrew
Congregations that certifying courses
were available for licensed physicians,
but there weren't enough doctors in
the area to put together a class.
When he moved to Miami, it was-
n't as difficult to find students. The
organizers gathered several teachers
from different religious movements to
teach not only the act of brit milah,
ny. And, in keeping with the Reform
tradition, both men and women can
be mohelim; about a third of those
who take the course are women.
Rabbi M. Robert Syme of Temple
Israel believes it is important to have a
Reform mohel "because Reform
Judaism needs to establish itself reli-
giously."
He pointed out that Cooper was
the president of Temple Israel's youth
group and continues to be committed
to the principles of Reform Judaism as
evidenced by his willingness to serve
as mohel to the community.
"Many people regard Reform
Judaism as not being authentic, that
many Reform Jews are transplanted
Orthodox Jews. But Adam Cooper is
legitimately committed to Reform
Judaism. His being born and raised in
the tradition and being committed
enough to become a mohel shows that
Reform Judaism is planting deep roots
in America," Syme said.
Cooper, the son of Gerson and
Carol, was the first graduate of the
Miami program to perform a bris, and
it was an historic event in the heavily
populated Jewish community.
Since then, he has performed a bris
but to cover the rudimentary Judaic
for a family in the Bahamas and per-
concepts as well.
formed a combined brit
"To be a responsible Reform Jew is
milah/covenant ceremony for opposite
to have a really good understanding of sex fraternal twins.
what traditional Judaism has to say
Cooper, who lives in West
and then draw from that what is
Bloomfield with his wife and two chil-
meaningful to you," Cooper said. "An
dren, brought his expertise to Detroit
awful lot of our training was to learn
in February when he joined a medical
the traditional precepts of brit milah
group affiliated with Botsford General
and all of the lifecycle events and why
Hospital. He has performed a couple
we do what we do _and why we have
of britot milah since he arrived.
eliminated or modified what we do."
He hopes his unique status will
The Reform movement, in a joint
bring him some business, but he does
project of the Central Conference of
not plan to advertise. Cooper, who
American Rabbis, Hebrew Union
can be reached by calling Temple
College and the Union of American
Israel in West Bloomfield, says he will
Hebrew Congregations, began the
rely on word of mouth.
program in 1984 for doctors and
"I didn't go into it for a profes-
nurse-midwives who possess both a
sion," he said. "If it augments my
valid medical license and the medical
salary, great; if it doesn't, that is fine,
expertise to perform the surgical
too. I really am doing this to provide a
aspect of the bris. The instruction,
service to the community." ❑
typically consisting of a two-hour
commitment each week for almost
four months, includes the liturgy of
brit milah, historical and halachic per-
spectives on the ritual, traditional and
The May 22 item on Na'amat's
modern medical aspects of circumci-
annual Spiritual Adoption
sion and the changing perspectives of
Jewish identity
Luncheongave an incorrect date
for the event. It will be held 11:45
Originally conceived in part as a
a.m. Thursday, June 11, at Adat
way to provide mohelim for under-
served areas of the country, the pro-
Shalom Synagogue. For informa-
tion or reservations, call Na'amat,
gram has an added aim — to offer the
(248) 967-4750.
option of a Reform brit milah ceremo-
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