Editing Brit milah (section)

==== Barriers ====
Because of the risk of infection, some rabbinical authorities have ruled that the traditional practice of direct contact should be replaced by using a sterile tube between the wound and the [[mohel]]'s mouth, so there is no direct oral contact. The [[Rabbinical Council of America]], the largest group of [[Modern Orthodox]] rabbis, endorses this method.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100605
 |title       = Metzitza Be'Peh – Halachic Clarification Regarding Metzitza Be'Peh, RCA Clarifies Halachic Background to Statement of March 1, 2005
 |publisher   = Rabbis.org
 |access-date  = 2012-04-25
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120117161842/http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100605
 |archive-date = January 17, 2012
}}</ref> The RCA paper states: "Rabbi Schachter even reports that Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik reports that his father, Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, would not permit a mohel to perform metzitza be’peh with direct oral contact, and that his grandfather, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik, instructed mohelim in Brisk not to do metzitza be’peh with direct oral contact. However, although Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik also generally prohibited metzitza be’peh with direct oral contact, he did not ban it by those who insisted upon it." The sefer Mitzvas Hametzitzah<ref>The book was originally published in German, ''Die Ausübung der Mezizo'', Frankfurt a.M. 1906; It was subsequently translated into Hebrew, reprinted in Jerusalem in 1966 under the title "''Mitzvas Hametzitzah''" and appended to the back of Dvar Sinai, a book written by the author's grandson, Sinai Adler.</ref> by Rabbi Sinai Schiffer of Baden, Germany, states that he is in possession of letters from 36 major Russian (Lithuanian) rabbis that categorically prohibit Metzitzah with a sponge and require it to be done orally. Among them is Rabbi Chaim Halevi Soloveitchik of Brisk.

In September 2012, the [[New York Department of Health]] unanimously ruled that the practice of metztizah b'peh should require informed consent from the parent or guardian of the child undergoing the ritual.<ref>{{Cite web|last=admin|date=September 13, 2012|title=New York, NY – City Approves Metzitzah B'Peh Consent Form (full video NYC DOH debate)|url=https://vinnews.com/2012/09/13/new-york-ny-city-approves-metzitzah-bpeh-consent-form/|access-date=2022-07-23|website=VINnews|language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231212114/http://www.vosizneias.com/113562/2012/09/13/new-york-ny-city-approves-metzitzah-bpeh-consent-form/ |archive-date=December 31, 2015}}</ref> Prior to the ruling, several hundred rabbis, including Rabbi David Niederman, the executive director of the United Jewish Organization of Williamsburg, signed a declaration stating that they would not inform parents of the potential dangers that came with metzitzah b'peh, even if informed consent became law.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Witty|first=Allison C.|date=September 2, 2012|title=New York – Rabbis Say They'll Defy Law On Metzitzah B'peh|url=https://vinnews.com/2012/09/02/new-york-rabbis-say-theyll-defy-state-law-on-metzitzah-bpeh/|access-date=2022-07-23|website=VINnews|language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306062427/http://www.vosizneias.com/112847/2012/09/02/new-york-rabbis-say-theyll-defy-state-law-on-metzitzah-bpeh/ |archive-date=March 6, 2016}}</ref>

In a motion for preliminary injunction with intent to sue, filed against New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, affidavits by [[Awi Federgruen]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://protectmilah.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/MBP-Federgruen-Affidavit.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515030405/http://protectmilah.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/MBP-Federgruen-Affidavit.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-15 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4351278/central-rabbinical-congress-of-the-usa-canada-v-new-york-city-department/#entry-18|title=Docket for Central Rabbinical Congress of the USA & Canada v. New York City Department of Health & Mental..., 1:12-cv-07590|website=[[CourtListener]]|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508014112/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4351278/central-rabbinical-congress-of-the-usa-canada-v-new-york-city-department/#entry-18|archive-date=8 May 2018}}</ref> Brenda Breuer,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://protectmilah.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/MBP-Breuer-Affidavit2.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515000708/http://protectmilah.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/MBP-Breuer-Affidavit2.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-15 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4351278/central-rabbinical-congress-of-the-usa-canada-v-new-york-city-department/#entry-19|title=Docket for Central Rabbinical Congress of the USA & Canada v. New York City Department of Health & Mental..., 1:12-cv-07590|website=[[CourtListener]]|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508014112/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4351278/central-rabbinical-congress-of-the-usa-canada-v-new-york-city-department/#entry-19|archive-date=8 May 2018}}</ref> and Daniel S. Berman<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://protectmilah.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/MBP-Berman-Affidavit.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515015938/http://protectmilah.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/MBP-Berman-Affidavit.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-15 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4351278/central-rabbinical-congress-of-the-usa-canada-v-new-york-city-department/#entry-13|title=Docket for Central Rabbinical Congress of the USA & Canada v. New York City Department of Health & Mental..., 1:12-cv-07590|website=[[CourtListener]]|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508014112/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4351278/central-rabbinical-congress-of-the-usa-canada-v-new-york-city-department/#entry-13|archive-date=8 May 2018}}</ref> argued that the study on which the department passed its conclusions is flawed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forward.com/opinion/letters/194118/no-conclusive-evidence-on-circumcision-rite-and-he/|title=No Conclusive Evidence on Circumcision Rite and Herpes|website=forward.com|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020085846/http://forward.com/opinion/letters/194118/no-conclusive-evidence-on-circumcision-rite-and-he/|archive-date=20 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yated.com/bris-milah-lawsuit-court-to-rule-on-temporary-injuction-against-anti-mbp-law/|title=Bris Milah Lawsuit: Court To Rule On Temporary Injuction Against Anti-MBP Law|first=Debbie|last=Maimon|date=26 December 2012|website=yated.com|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508014112/https://yated.com/bris-milah-lawsuit-court-to-rule-on-temporary-injuction-against-anti-mbp-law/|archive-date=8 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hamodia.com/2013/01/10/judge-rejects-injunction-in-landmark-milah-suit/|title=Judge Rejects Injunction in Landmark Milah Suit|publisher=Jewish News – Israel News – Israel Politics|date=10 January 2013|website=hamodia.com|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026020216/http://hamodia.com/2013/01/10/judge-rejects-injunction-in-landmark-milah-suit/|archive-date=26 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/consent-forms-for-metzitzah-bpeh-empowering-parents-or-interfering-in-religious-practice/2013/10/25/2/|title=Consent Forms For ''Metzitzah B'Peh'' – Empowering Parents Or Interfering In Religious Practice?|first=Dr. Daniel Berman and Prof. Brenda Breuer and Prof. Awi|last=Federgruen|website=jewishpress.com|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122005218/http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/consent-forms-for-metzitzah-bpeh-empowering-parents-or-interfering-in-religious-practice/2013/10/25/2/|archive-date=22 November 2017}}</ref>

The "informed consent" regulation was challenged in court. In January 2013 the U.S. District court ruled that the law did not specifically target religion and therefore must not pass [[strict scrutiny]]. The ruling was appealed to the Court of Appeals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.becketlaw.org/case/central-rabbinical-congress-v-new-york-city-department-health-mental-hygiene/|title=Central Rabbinical Congress v. New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene|website=becketlaw.org|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318183002/https://www.becketlaw.org/case/central-rabbinical-congress-v-new-york-city-department-health-mental-hygiene/|archive-date=18 March 2018}}</ref>

On August 15, 2014, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision by the lower court, and ruled that the regulation does have to be reviewed under [[strict scrutiny]] to determine whether it infringes on Orthodox Jews' freedom of religion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-newyork-circumcision-idUSKBN0GF1LZ20140815 |title=U.S. Court revives challenge to New York City circumcision law |access-date=2017-06-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930150149/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/15/us-usa-newyork-circumcision-idUSKBN0GF1LZ20140815 |archive-date=2015-09-30 |newspaper=[[Reuters]] |date=2014-08-15 }}</ref>

On September 9, 2015, after coming to an agreement with the community the New York City Board of Health voted to repeal the informed consent regulation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/nyregion/new-york-city-health-board-repeals-rule-on-consent-forms-for-circumcision-ritual.html|title=New York City Health Board Repeals Rule on Consent Forms for Circumcision Ritual|first=Michael M.|last=Grynbaum|date=9 September 2015|via=NYTimes.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716195928/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/nyregion/new-york-city-health-board-repeals-rule-on-consent-forms-for-circumcision-ritual.html|archive-date=16 July 2017|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>