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Why is the foreskin removed? God gave it men, did God also tell them to have it removed?

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Welcome to Judaism.SE! Your question is an important one, but unfortunately phrased with a combative tone. Please rephrase, and we can re-open. –  Isaac Moses Jun 28 '11 at 17:05
@Isaac Moses: Is that better? –  Josh M. Jun 28 '11 at 17:12
good enough, IMO. Thanks. –  Isaac Moses Jun 28 '11 at 17:13
The word "still" in the title bears explanation, since there is no reference to temporal differentiation in the question. Also "in Judaism" is redundant, so I have edited it out. It is also not clear to whom "them" refers in the question. Please disambiguate. –  WAF Jun 28 '11 at 17:21
I like it when questions that the gemora says people asked, are being asked :) Even more fun when nobody quotes said gemora in their answer. –  avi Sep 15 '11 at 20:34

4 Answers 4

Firstly, we circumcise because it the sign specifically commanded in the Torah, by God to the Abraham and his descendants for entering the eternal covenant with God (Bereshit, 17). In return, God made Abraham the father of a multitude of nations. Made him exceedingly fruitful, into nations, and kings. God gave his decedents the entire land of Canaan for an everlasting posession, and is their God.

But why specifically the prepuce?

Circumcision is a chok (a law with an unclear reasons), however in the guide of the perplexed Rambam gives his own rationale for cutting off the prepuce specifically:



While the Rambam's second reason makes the connection that the circumcision is a covenant for believers in God's unity, it doesn't really answer why the prepuce is specifically cut off as sign of God's unity - the tip of your nose, or an ear-lobe could have been the sign.

I'd offer my own answer (so take it with a grain of salt), building upon the Rambam's second reason and in conjunction with his reason for other chukim (laws with unclear reasons), for why the circumcision is a sign of God's unity. The Rambam explains the reasons for some other chukim by showing that that they were idolatrous. He references an ancient book called "The Nabataean Agriculture" to show how many of our chukim are restrictions of idolatrous practices of the pagan society Abraham was from.

It must now be clear to you, and no room can be left for any doubt, that the prohibition of wearing garments of wool and linen, of using the fruit of a tree in the first three years, and of mixing diverse species, are directed against idolatry, and that the prohibition against adopting heathen manners serves to remove anything which leads to idolatry, as has been shown by us.

I would link circumcision to this, since the Phallus was a common idol whose worship dates back to prehistoric times and is still today a sign of fertility in some cultures. By injuring our phallus, we are actively denying the worthiness of the penis to be worshiped.

While other nations worship the phalluses, Jews cut their own phalluses as a sign of God's unity. Only Hashem is God, not stone or even flesh which can be cut in two.

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Thank you for this. I had no idea that traditional Jewish thought included the concept of circumcision for limiting pleasure. –  daxelrod Dec 26 '11 at 19:46


God commanded Avraham to circumcise his sons and future male descendants. The obligation was derived from that command to apply to all fathers of male children. The relevant sources are laid out by Ramba"m here.

There are many mitzvos completion of which necessitates altering something's physical state. Here are some more examples: [binding and waving] the 4 designated plants on Sukos, gifting choice fleece to priests, preparing olive oil for priestly annointment

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In fact, pretty much everything that G-d created is meant for us to improve on; "all of G-d's work which He created to do" (Gen. 2:3) is understood to mean that we are expected "to do" things with what He created. This is also true in day-to-day living: G-d created grain, we turn it into bread; fleece, and we turn it into clothing; and so forth. –  Alex Jun 28 '11 at 18:21
That is a strange statement, since women are not "improved" in such a way. –  avi Jun 29 '11 at 9:10
@avi: I recall seeing an idea somewhere (don't recall the source) that a woman's body indeed is a more faithful reflection of Hashem than is a man's, in that she is capable of carrying new life within it, as Hashem "contains" the entire universe within Himself. Based on that, then, her body indeed doesn't need that kind of "improvement" any more than Hashem Himself does. –  Alex Sep 15 '11 at 22:37
That negates your statement that "pretty much everything that G-d created is meant for us to improve on" :) And.. women still need to do teshuvah :) As do men. Also ironically, women are more likely to get their ear's pierce or other body modifications, but it is not a mitzvah to do so. –  avi Sep 16 '11 at 12:34

The Midrash records a discussion of this issue (from vbm-torah.org). R' Akiva explains that God created the world and man so that man can improve it:

"Once the evil [Roman governor] Turnus Rufus asked Rabbi Akiva, 'Whose deeds are greater - God's or man's?' He replied, 'Man's deeds are greater.' Turnus Rufus asked him, 'Is man then capable of creating heaven and earth, or anything like them?' Rabbi Akiva replied, 'I was not referring to the sphere beyond man's ability, over which he has no control. I refer to those creations of which man is capable.' He then asked, 'Why do you circumcise yourselves?' Rabbi Akiva replied, 'I knew that that was the point of your question, and therefore I answered in the first place that man's deeds are greater than God's.' Rabbi Akiva brought him grains of wheat and some bread, and said: 'These grains of wheat are God's handiwork, and the bread is the handiwork of man. Is the latter not greater than the former?' Turnus Rufus answered him, 'If God wanted you to perform circumcision, why did He not create the child already circumcised while still in the womb?' Rabbi Akiva answered, 'Why do you not ask the same question concerning the umbilical cord, which remains attached to him and which his mother must cut? In response to your question - the reason why he does not emerge already circumcised is because God gave Israel the commandments in order that they would be purified by performing them. Therefore David wrote, 'Every word of God is pure (or, purified).'"

The idea mentioned in the moreh nevuchim can also be understood symbolically. While circumcision not actually limit pleasure, it symbolizes subjugating everything, including basic desires, to God's will. This symbolism of rising above the physical for a higher cause infuriated many anti-semites. For example, Hitler said "The Jews have inflicted two wounds on the world: Circumcision for the body and conscience for the soul". Judaism brought to the world Ethical Monotheism which called for higher ideals than just gaining power, such as helping the weak and the poor. Similarly, Judaism calls for circumcision as a symbol of rising above base desires.

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I have understood the bris milah to be illuminated in Devarim 30:6

וּמָל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת-לְבָבְךָ, וְאֶת-לְבַב זַרְעֶךָ: לְאַהֲבָה אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל-נַפְשְׁךָ--לְמַעַן חַיֶּיךָ.

We might consider this factors deeply with teshuvah, in that the sin (the part that impedes reciprocity with the light of hashem) is "cut off" so the nation may live.

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