Marketplace Ask Wendy Circumcision Is Part Of Being Jewish Dear Wendy: to be solely responsible for My husband and I are his having to be circumcised expecting our first son and as an adult? (The image is have decided not to circum- toopainful to imagine, much cise him. I think the prac- less the procedure.) A par- tice is barbaric; my husband ent's job is to open as many is swayed by the recent doors for their children as medical literature. How do possible, not to close those we break the news to our doors before the child has parents? even decided whether he WEN DY —Lost For Words wants to gain entrance. BELZB ERG Finally, a question I can't Circumcising your son is Specia 1 to answer. The Commandment the very least you do to be the Jewis h News in the Torah to circumcise identified as a Jew in the every Jewish male on the Jewish community. On the eighth day of his life is so sacrosanct eighth day of your son's life, close you that the practice is observed by every eyes and think of Israel. For your par- branch of Judaism. You may have ents' sake, if not for your son's. You will decided you do not want to hold a have the rest of your life to debate the place for your son in the Jewish corn- - medical and cultural pros and cons of munity, but as he grows older that your decision. choice will be his to make. Think about it, do you really want Dear Wendy: I am a Catholic and I work in a New York City hospital with many Orthodox people. I began studying the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and often go to his grave to pray for my patients. I have learned to read a siddur and recite the Psalms. For some time, I have been searching for God and find I feel more connect- ed when praying with my Jewish friends. Perhaps I am confused or perhaps I can see the truth of both the Old and New Testaments — which, by the way, I think should just be called the scriptures. —Seeing The Truth It is no accident that the Old and the New Testaments are called by dif- ferent names; they are vastly different texts. While combining the two may be good for world peace, I've yet to meet a priest or rabbi, Christian or Jew who believes the two systems could or should merge. (Consider the prospect of the Mets and the Yankees sharing a dugout.) The great Rabbi Hillel said to a pros- elyte who wanted to learn the whole Torah while standing on one foot, "Love thy neighbor as thyself, and now go learn the rest!" You don't sound so much confused about God as about yourself. To find out, "go learn the rest." But the Old and New Testaments are like two different contracts prescribing two radi- cally different ways of life. Educate yourself about which contract you wish to sign. But give up any fantasy that you can sign them both. ❑ Write to "Ask Wendy" at 954 Lexington Ave. #189, New York, NY 10021, or e-mail askwendy@thejewishnews.com The Detroit Jewish News speaks to your interests and your concerns. THE OAKLAND PRESS CLASSIFIED To Advertise in The Classified Ads Online — www.theoaklandpress.com Oakland Press' expanded coverage in the Detroit Jewish News, please call (248) 745-4500 or (800) 686-2754 Real Estate KLEE Rochester/ Rochester Hills REMOLD. 2 - 3 bdrm. ranch. New kitchen, bath, carpet. paint, 2 car attach. Gar., huge lot near M- 59/Dequindre. $154,900 248-318-2356 No Brokers LEEN Dryden 4 BEDROOM brick 2 story, 2.5 baths, 3000 sq.ft. 2 years old, on 10 wood acres, near creek. $442,400. 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