Does a circumcision make you a Jew?

Answer 1

There are four main branches of Judaism. They all believe the same things but to different levels of observance:

• Reform - Least observant, but still spiritual.
• Conservative - Mix between Reform and Orthodox
• Orthodox - Strict observance of the laws of Judaism
• Hasidic - Very strict observance of all the laws of Judaism

Some Reform groups don't require male circumcision as part of the conversion process, but this is a minority attitude. All others, including most Reform congregations, include circumcision in the conversion process.

NOTE:
1) If a male is already circumcised, there is a ceremony called a "symbolic circumcision" in which a mohel takes a drop of blood.
2) Mohels perform circumcision, but doctors and rabbis can also be trained as mohels.

Answer 2

Abraham was 99 years old when God told him to circumcise himself and all the males of his family, so it's NEVER too late. I would recommend a Jewish doctor trained as a mohel to do it. To answer the question as to what happens if you're a Jewish male and not circumcised, you would not be allowed to participate in pretty much any religious ceremony or properly participate in prayer and the observance of holidays.

Go to the related link below (Circumcision: A Source of Jewish Pain by

Ronald Goldman)

for information on jews that are not circumcised and their reasons.

Answer 3

Your penis gets a symbolic needle prick and you shed 1 drop of blood.

Answer 4

No, circumcision does not make a person a Jew. According to Jewish law, you are born a Jew if your mother is a Jew. The circumcision ceremony is a recognition of our covenant with HaShem.

Answer 5

Yes (Talmud, Berakhot 47b, and Keritut 9a).

See also the Related Link.

More about conversion