Leif Thompson, M.D. presents at the 27th Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health in Brisbane, Australia, on 19 June 2025.| Beyond the Bris
In the third episode of The Bruchim Podcast, host Eli Ungar-Sargon engages in a heartfelt conversation with Bruchim’s Co-Founder and President, Lisa Braver Moss, exploring her personal journey from regret to activism regarding Jewish circumcision. Moss recounts her initial discomfort with the tradition, her feelings of coercion, and the subsequent realization that led her to… The post From Regret to Renewal: Lisa Braver Moss on Redefining Jewish Belonging appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
There’s a new podcast in town, and it’s tackling a topic that most people don’t talk about—at least not this openly. The Bruchim Podcast is a fresh, thought-provoking series from Bruchim, a nonprofit that supports Jews who’ve decided not to circumcise. Hosted by filmmaker and activist Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon, the show explores stories at the intersection… The post A Major Jewish Literary Voice Challenges “The Knife” appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
“Isn’t being a Jew against circumcision like being a Catholic opposed to communion?” In the inaugural episode of The Bruchim Podcast, Bruchim co-founder and podcast host Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon and guest Max Buckler, Bruchim’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, tackle one of the most misunderstood ideas in Jewish life today: that one can be both Jewish and… The post Jews Opposed to Circumcision? Bruchim’s New Podcast Says Yes—and Proudly So appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
By REBECCA WALD The recent raids in Belgium targeting illegal ritual circumcisions—including the practice of metzitzah b’peh—have understandably raised fears of antisemitism, and it’s essential to take those concerns seriously. But we must also be willing to confront uncomfortable truths that exist within the broader Jewish community. A slew of alarmist articles have been appearing…| Beyond the Bris
By JOE WOLF A Jewish foreskin is a wonderful thing. There are those that signify loving parents who eschewed a barbaric and outdated tradition to leave their son whole in the face of vast social pressure. These are those that the brit shalom movement has helped to protect. And there are those, like mine, that… The post My Jewish Foreskin Restoration Journey appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
“In medical school, they try to prepare you for this. They do. They tell you there’ll be tough decisions, times when you have to hold someone’s fate in your hand, times when you are forced to play God. But nothing really prepares you for times like this. Nothing. — Dr. Joel Fleishman on circumcision … The post An Arctic Blast from the Past: Northern Exposure’s Jewish Anti-Circumcision Doctor appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
Editor’s Note: The following article appeared on David’ Balashinsky’s blog on March 28, 2022, and was recently updated, making this the first long-form article addressing the most recent concerns of antisemitism in the genital autonomy community. By DAVID BALASHINSKY — I got involved in “intactivism” (the name by which the cause of eradicating male genital mutilation… The post Undermining the Cause of Genital Autonomy through Jewish Scapegoating & Antisemitic Tropes appeared fi...| Beyond the Bris
By RYAN McALLISTER — I’ve come to expect defensiveness when I bring up the topic of circumcision. I’ve talked with thousands of people in my small, personal efforts to oppose circumcision in the US, and defensiveness is how nearly everyone responds. And yet, in his newest book and recent posts, Brendon Marotta singles out the… The post Refuting “Jewish Fragility” & Why Antisemitism Harms the Genital Autonomy (GA) Movement appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
By REBECCA WALD Antisemitism is on the rise. The Anti-Defamation League reports that across the U.S., antisemitic incidents hit an all-time high in 2021. Tel Aviv University has also reported record-high global antisemitism. Sadly, for many of us in the Jewish community, these trends are more than abstract figures. A few months ago, my own… The post Standing Together Against Antisemitism appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon created this short film as part of Bruchim’s educational resources. Bruchim is a nonprofit that advocates for non-circumcising Jews and their families. Eliyahu walks us through three texts from the heart of the Rabbinic legal tradition that all deal with the matter of intact(uncircumcised)Jewish boys and men. He demonstrates that contrary to common belief,… The post “With Their Hearts” Text Study appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
By REBECCA WALD — Sometimes Jewish practice finds itself on a collision course with modern science. How is this handled? Can long-standing Jewish practices evolve? The answer can be found in the life and work of Rabbi Moshe Dovid Tendler who passed away last week at the age of 95. Tendler’s life and legacy have… The post Jewish Practices Can Evolve appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
By YAKOV ZISSER — I was born in Siberia, Russia, in 1957. My parents and grandparents were originally Latvian Jews. As an independent country, Latvia had a small Jewish population where Jews had schools and participated in culture and politics. However the Soviets occupied Latvia in 1940. On the eve of Germany’s invasion of Latvia, in… The post I was a Soviet Jew who chose to get circumcised after making Aliyah to Israel. Now I regret it. appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
Forgive me, but I am getting more than a little tired of reading the myriad “heartwarming” stories about how brit milah is carrying on despite the Covid-19 pandemic. About how loved ones far and wide now watch the cutting take place on Zoom, and how mohels are donning surgical masks. To counter these trite pieces… The post A Different Take on Brit Milah During Coronavirus appeared first on Beyond the Bris.| Beyond the Bris
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By REBECCA WALD — A few weeks ago I traveled to northern California to attend the brit shalom of the grandson of my friend and colleague Lisa Braver Moss. It was a magical day full of spiritual and personal significance. The ceremony the family chose came from the book, Celebrating Brit Shalom, which Lisa and I co-authored…| Beyond the Bris