New York – In a meeting held yesterday, the New York City Department of Health convened to determine how to best work with the Orthodox Jewish community to educate them about the potential dangers of metzizah b’peh. It is a welcome change from the previous Mayoral administration which required parents to sign a consent form at the time of their son’s bris acknowledging the risks of performing the ancient ritual, and only served to infuriate the community.
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The New York Times reports (http://nyti.ms/1GhaMGZ) that the de Blasio administration has produced a glossy brochure to warn parents about the risk of spreading herpes. “Some babies can get sick with herpes, which can lead to death,” the text states in bold type. “There is no way to avoid the risk.”
Rabbi David Neiderman, a well-known leader from Williamsburg’s Orthodox community was dismayed upon seeing the brochure for the first time. “Serious misstatements,” he said, but added he was only looking to praise the City for its collaborative attitude and did not want to openly criticize the brochure at this time.
De Blasio has promised to work with the Orthodox community to rewrite the City’s policies surrounding the controversial practice. Following yesterday’s meeting, the Department of Health voted to consider waiving the consent form requirement and work with hospitals to ensure the educational brochure is distributed in English and Yiddish to Orthodox families at the time of birth. “What we’re doing, so well-intended, isn’t working, so we’ve got to find some new approach,” said Pamela Brier, CEO of Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, which delivers many Orthodox Jewish babies.
A public hearing will be held in July and the board will make a final decision in September.
its not like anyone did it.
Thank you Rabbi Neiderman for being on the forefront on this issue.However,rabbi Neiderman,the williamsburg Jewish community in whose name you speak have a very important pressing issue,housing.
Rabbi Neiderman is an extremely kind person but for some reason he delivers almost nothing for the williamsburg community.
For the greedy developers he will get all kinds of re-zoning so they should get richer than they already are and for the average person who needs desperately housing he is no where to find.This is coming from me someone who davnes in the same shull as rabbi Neiderman