The Bruchim Podcast

In this episode, Eli and Max are joined by Dr. Na’ama Carlin to discuss her book Morality, Violence, and Ritual Circumcision. They talk about Dr. Carlin’s distinction between two types of violence: Manichaen violence, which is done by and to people; and generative violence, which helps to create identities." They discuss the contemporary circumcision debate and how Jewish circumcision resists its logic. Further, they talk about Derrida’s book Circumfession and how Na’ama leans on it for her understanding of Jewish circumcision. Show Notes Dr. Carlin’s book  Morality, Violence, and Ritual Circumcision https://www.routledge.com/Morality-Violence-and-Ritual-Circumcision-Writing-with-Blood/Carlin/p/book/9780367551957 [https://www.routledge.com/Morality-Violence-and-Ritual-Circumcision-Writing-with-Blood/Carlin/p/book/9780367551957] Between Prophylaxis and Child Abuse: The Ethics of Neonatal Male Circumcision by Michael Benatar and David Benatar https://philpapers.org/rec/BENBPA-2 [https://philpapers.org/rec/BENBPA-2] Rachel Bloom’s Foreskin Angels https://youtu.be/LyqutExm-jw?si=M7XVraz3Fz3HLXuE [https://youtu.be/LyqutExm-jw?si=M7XVraz3Fz3HLXuE] Derrida’s Circumfession https://a.co/d/e6Isf8P [https://a.co/d/e6Isf8P]

In his second appearance on The Bruchim Podcast, Jeff presents his view on the ethics of circumcision, and Max and Eli respond with their own views on the matter. They discuss the right to bodily integrity, the right to self-determination, the differences and similarities between male and female genital cutting practices, and the possibility that circumcision wrongs people without harming them. Show Notes Eli’s Text Study Video: https://youtu.be/w_7xv6V68b8?si=YVdN3Jv53JTuOKv1 [https://youtu.be/w_7xv6V68b8?si=YVdN3Jv53JTuOKv1] Eli’s Essay on the ethics of neonatal circumcision: https://www.eliungar.com/circumcision/2013/9/8/on-the-impermissibility-of-infant-male-circumcision.html [https://www.eliungar.com/circumcision/2013/9/8/on-the-impermissibility-of-infant-male-circumcision.html] https://www.eliungar.com/circumcision/2013/9/8/on-the-impermissibility-of-infant-male-circumcision.htmlEruvin 13b https://www.sefaria.org/Eruvin.13b.1?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en [https://www.sefaria.org/Eruvin.13b.1?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en]

In the third part of this  series, Eli and Max are joined by the moral philosopher Jeff Helmreich. After Jeff gets up to speed on the conversation, he complicates matters by introducing a fifth option for the relationship between ethics and Jewish law. The group digs into the "Oven of Akhnai," a famous story from the Babylonian Talmud. Jeff then talks about the process he went through when deciding to circumcise his son and articulates his position, followed by discussion of how his position relates to the other options discussed. Show Notes: Eli’s film, Cut: https://www.cutthefilm.com [https://www.cutthefilm.com] Sam Lebens book The Principles of Judaism: https://a.co/d/7HCrWzx [https://a.co/d/7HCrWzx] Jeff’s Review of the Lebens book: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/religious-studies/article/abs/samuel-lebens-the-principles-of-judaism-oxford-oxford-university-press-2020-pp-xviii-352-750010000-hbk-isbn-9780198843252/80958BDE0851BCC4A63E7EE50E9E3693?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=bookmark [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/religious-studies/article/abs/samuel-lebens-the-principles-of-judaism-oxford-oxford-university-press-2020-pp-xviii-352-750010000-hbk-isbn-9780198843252/80958BDE0851BCC4A63E7EE50E9E3693?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=bookmark] https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/religious-studies/article/abs/samuel-lebens-the-principles-of-judaism-oxford-oxford-university-press-2020-pp-xviii-352-750010000-hbk-isbn-9780198843252/80958BDE0851BCC4A63E7EE50E9E3693?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=bookmarkRabbi Aharon Lichtenstein’s Essay: https://www.etzion.org.il/en/philosophy/great-thinkers/harav-aharon-lichtenstein/does-jewish-tradition-recognize-ethic [https://www.etzion.org.il/en/philosophy/great-thinkers/harav-aharon-lichtenstein/does-jewish-tradition-recognize-ethic] https://www.etzion.org.il/en/philosophy/great-thinkers/harav-aharon-lichtenstein/does-jewish-tradition-recognize-ethicThe Oven of Akhnai Story: https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Metzia.59b.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Metzia.59b.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en]

In the second part of this series, Eli is joined by Bruchim’s Director of Education, Max DuBoff, to look at an essay by Rabbi Ethan Tucker that is directly relevant to the relationship between Ethics and Jewish law. After a brief introduction to Rabbi Tucker’s place in the Jewish world, they try to understand how Rabbi Tucker's view fits into the categories delineated in the first part of the series. They conclude by discussing Tucker’s comments in this essay on the topic of circumcision. Show Notes: Rabbi Ethan Tucker on Parshat Vaetchanan: https://www.hadar.org/torah-tefillah/resources/ethical-norms-foundation-torah [https://www.hadar.org/torah-tefillah/resources/ethical-norms-foundation-torah]

Are Jewish law and ethics in conflict? Eli is joined by Max DuBoff, Bruchim's Director of Education, to explore this question. They begin by defining their terms and explaining what they mean by ethics and what they mean by halakha, Jewish law. Max then proposes four possible positions that one might take regarding the relationship between the two, based on two questions: 1) Can ethics and Jewish law conflict?; and 2) If they can, what should we do about it? Max and Eli each explain which position appeals most to them, and why. Finally, they talk about whether circumcision can be considered an example of a conflict between Ethics and Jewish law. Show Notes: Conservative Halacha and LGBT Issues: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/conservative-halakhah-and-homosexuality/ [https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/conservative-halakhah-and-homosexuality/] Plato’s Euthyphro Dialogue: https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html [https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html] Covenant of Blood by Lawrence Hoffman: https://books.google.com/books/about/Covenant_of_Blood.html?id=YtAwXlnNyMgC [https://books.google.com/books/about/Covenant_of_Blood.html?id=YtAwXlnNyMgC]