The Gazette’s April 28 front page article “It should be up to the boy” was a disappointing departure from the balanced journalism I expect from the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
By presenting only one side of a deeply complex issue, the piece inadvertently leaned into tropes that have historically been used to marginalize the Jewish community.
The decision to exclude any voices explaining the religious, cultural, and historical significance of the Brit Milah (covenant of circumcision) is a glaring omission. For Jewish people, this practice is not a mere “procedure”; it is a central pillar of identity and a 3,000-year-old tradition. When the Gazette frames a sacred religious rite solely through the lens of modern “protest” without providing the cultural context or the perspective of those who practice it, it fosters an environment where antisemitic sentiment can flourish. This, during a time when antisemitism is at an all time high in our community.
The article allowed several medical misconceptions to go unchallenged. To suggest that the procedure is inherently traumatic or leads to penile issues contradicts a vast body of medical data. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the health benefits of newborn male circumcision, including lower risks of UTIs, penile cancer, and certain STIs, outweigh the risks. Modern practices also prioritize the baby’s comfort; when performed by a trained professional using local anesthesia, the procedure is quick and the discomfort is minimal and temporary.
Fairness in reporting requires that when a community’s core traditions are under fire, that community is given an opportunity to speak for themselves. Singling out a Jewish practice is yet another form of discrimination against our community.
Veronica Darmon
Northampton