The NY Daily News reports the United Jewish Organization “robocalled” residents of Williamsburg on Sunday reportedly urging them not to attend a rally for NYS Senate candidate Daniel Squadron and to vote for incumbent Sen. Martin Connor. Why? Squadron’s alleged opposition to the ritual circumcision practice known as Metzitza B’Peh, which resulted in three infants becoming infected with neonatal herpes in 2004. One of the babies died. How can that happen? The Jewish Ledger describes the practice:
In metzitzah b’peh, a mohel orally sucks blood from the site of the genital cut he makes during the circumcision procedure. Not all haredi groups mandate the practice, but several haredi sects insist that it is required by Jewish law.
The NYC Board of Health opposes the practice. Mayor Bloomberg has promised to find “common ground” on the issue with Haisidic leaders. Connor tells the NY Daily News “I didn’t get involved in that, to tell you the truth … It’s a difficult situation. Bloomberg’s administration was handling it. I don’t know enough about it.”
