Circumcision & Jewish Identity

Part 2 of an ongoing discussion with Jewish scholar, Miriam Pollack.

Why do/did you have foreskin?

The foreskin occupies a prominent position on an important organ. The foreskins location and structure indicate that it is the most important sensory tissue of the penis. Its persistence over millions of years suggests that it has played a role in the propagation of the species.

A well-integrated organ

Structurally, the penis is highly integrated. The glans, foreskin and skin of the penile shaft function as a single unit, not as a collection of separate parts with entirely different functions. The functions of the glans and foreskin are similar, and overlapping, but come fully into their own at different times during intercourse.

Simple sensations

The outer surface of the foreskin is specialized to detect feather-light touch and other sensations, including painful ones. The infamous zipper injury is an extreme example of the sort of damage the outer skin was designed to detect and prevent, long before the zipper posed a threat to the uninitiated.

Compared with the true (outer) skin of the foreskin, the glans is only feebly sensitive to light touch, pain, heat and cold. This is part of the reason we call the foreskin the primary sensory tissue of the penis. Without the foreskin, the end of the penis is numb to a host of sensations that tell the owner whether one of his most prized organs is in good company, or should move to safety.

Complex sensations

Thanks to its ridged band, the inner lining of the foreskin is specialized sexual tissue. The ridged band readily expands and contracts and is obviously designed to detect stretching forces. When penile shaft skin tugs on the ridged band, special genital corpuscles in the peaks of the ridges detect movement and trigger ejaculation. Stretching of the ridged band may also trigger and sustain erection.

Electrical stimulation of the glans triggers nerve impulses that pass to the spinal cord and then to the muscle of ejaculation. Clearly the glans has much in common with the foreskin. Where foreskin and glans part company, functionally as well as physically, is in their sensitivity to light touch, pain and heat and cold. Contrary to common opinion, the glans is not highly sensitive to a broad range of stimuli.

Foreskin vs. glans

It is unclear whether the ridged band simply plays backup for the glans, or whether the two have different functions. The location of the retracted ridged band on the erect penile shaft suggests that the difference is one of timing. Possibly, the foreskin and its ridged band are designed to ensure that sexual reflexes are triggered when, and only when, these structures are stretched during intercourse. The biological importance of the ridged band to conception is self-evident, but there is still a major gap in our understanding of the relation between form and function of the penis.

Dartos muscle

Penile skin has two important characteristics, apparent only on erection. Firstly penile skin tenses, stiffens and shortens, firming up the connection between shaft skin and ridged band. This change allows for the transmission of movement from the base of the erect penis to the ridged band.

Secondly, penile skin undergoes a marked frictional change, brought about by stiff, forward-pointing skin folds. The mechanism is similar to that which raises goosebumps.

The changes in penile skin are brought about by contraction of the Dartos muscle. Between them, stiffening and frictionality ensure that the ridged band is instantly alerted to changes in position of the penis within the vagina.

Why two layers?

The double-layering of the foreskin allows the delicate ridged band, which normally is safely hidden from view, to be deployed on the upper surface of the penile shaft during erection. There it stands a better chance of being activated. Double-layering also eases vaginal entry by offsetting the frictional resistance of erect shaft skin.

Summary

The various parts of the penis, including the foreskin, form a functional whole. The foreskin is the primary sensory tissue of the penis. The ridged band of the foreskin is built to trigger orgasm and ejaculation.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• circumcision
• penis
• foreskin
• vagina
• clitoris
• labia
• sexual
• wounding
• religious
• rites
• mutilation
• genital
• integrity
• human
• rights

[amoralis123]

You are way out about circumcision. Circumcision was practised long before Jewish religion imposed it. However, it was not compulsory. Hindus before Aryan invasion practised it so did other South East Asians. A circumcised penis is less prone to infection than an uncircumcised one. Smegma can develop into carcinoma. Do not equate it with infibulation. Your trauma is your demon.Deal with it and do not impose on others.

[Bonobo3D]

amoralis123 you are wrong.

Hindus do not and have never circumcised.

Circumcised genitals are "less prone to infection" the same way any amputated body part is "less prone to infection." Amputating healthy body parts of children is medical quackery.

Smegma is a naturally occurring sloughing off of dead skin cells that happens to males and even more to females. Washing takes care of smegma.

This issue is one of imposing genital reduction surgery on infants and children. Human rights!

[amoralis123]

Softkick, you are way out brother. a circumcised penis is less prone to bacterial invasion/infection than a uncircumcised one. Period. However, infibulation is mutilation. Big difference. Get your facts straight from authentic sources..

[Bonobo3D]

Every human child has an inherent human right to the genitals they are born with. Children of both sexes die every year from infections following surgery imposed upon their natural genitals. Male and female genital cutting of children is barbaric and has no place in a just society.

[amoralis123]

@Bonobo3D Circumcision is not genital mutilation. You sound like the Women's Libber of yesteryears. Next thing will be nails, pubic hairs, armpits and head shaving. C'mon man, circumcision is no big deal. Have it or don't. But don't make it an issue where there is none. Of course, you can argue from here to high heaven finding pros and cons. Peace.

[Bonobo3D]

Were talking about forced circumcision, genital cutting of non consenting children. Comparing cutting the genitals of children to hair and nails is irrational.

[softkick]

Circumcision is not a Jewish thing, nor is it a Muslim thing nor is it a Christian thing. Circumcision is child abuse and whenever a child of any religion is abused its everyone's business. The Jewish and Islamic communities MUST be open to constructive criticism on this point!

[Brilliantatheist]

Cutting a child's genitals for God. How crazy does that sound?

[oh2love4love]

@gan0nsl4y3r lol, i have this need to tell people the truth! :D

you are so blessed to be whole - call it what it is! NATURAL as nature and or god intended :)

[gan0nsl4y3r]

@oh2love4love right, my bad :]

[oh2love4love]

@gan0nsl4y3r you are whole, intact, natural..

you are not uncircumcised because one cannot undo a circumcision.. see? :)

the medical community really needs to stop calling the natural penis that ridiculous word! ;)

[UnoRaza]

@Bonobo3D Thank you so much for coming out on this; there can be no doubt that God, a) would WANT His or Her name spoken; and b) Would never mutilate a baby.

I've felt this was the epitome of arrogance to 'make better; GODS work.

This is NOT a desire of our creator; perhaps His/Her enemies though...

[psyunicorn]

thank you jewish scholar. i am jewish and i try to bring up this issue in my old testament class. all the men cross their legs when i do it, but if i don't people will have their boys mutilated without questioning it.

[PaulRockey]

This is a very brave woman. I applaud her for speaking the truth. I am not Jewish, but I was mutilated at birth for routine "medical" purposes. The truth must be spread and this practice must die.

[mountain36wolf]

I respect her pioneering spirit & thinking outside the Jewish box. She echoes sentiments of many Jewish mothers who are socially shamed into silence about their culture's horrific genital mutilating practice. Infant circumcision violates Human Rights. Foreskin serves several important functions and is healthy, clean, living tissue. Let us all be more conscious like this inspirational lady.