Two Year Old loses hand in meat grinder while preparing Shabbos food!

The hand of a 2 year old girl was grinded off after being caught in a meat grinder on Friday. She was taken by helicopter to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.

A police investigation suggests that the child was under the care of a neighbor at the time of the accident. The man placed the child on the kitchen counter while being busy taking care of the preparations for Shabbat.

At one point, the girl put her hand in meat grinder. She was taken immediately to a domestic HMO in Misgav, where a Magen David Adom team provided her with initial care management. "She was crying and suffering from a serious injury. We took her by helicopter to Rambam hospital," said Majdi Khiali a paramedic.

Surgeons at Rambam, said they could not save the girl's hand. "The hand was injured in the section between the wrist and the elbow, with no possibility of reconstruction. She was taken to the operating room where the wound will be closed and then be admitted to the ICU of a children's hospital," said the staff at Rambam hospital.

"This is an unfortunate event," said trauma chief Dr. Hani Bachus. "Unfortunately there is nothing to do but close the wound and watch over the girl until she wakes up."
Police have launched an investigation and the neighbor was being questioned on suspicion of negligence.
The police arrested the neighbor after a preliminary investigation revealed that he buried the cut off hand in the courtyard of his home shortly after the accident.The neighbor explained his actions, saying that a medical officer told him that "nothing can be done with it." He will go to the Akko Magistrates Court for a hearing on remand.

Defendant swallows poison pill in court after hearing guilty verdict! Video

A former Wall Street trader convicted of setting his mansion in Phoenix Arizona on fire in a desperate maneuver to get out of his mortgage put his hands to his mouth - apparently in shock - and collapsed after the guilty verdict was read on Thursday.

He later died, but officials wonder if the hand gesture was actually a final act, planned in advance to poison himself, according to reports.

Miguel Marin, 53, had just been found guilty of arson in the Maricopa County Superior Court, a crime that could have put him in jail for almost 16 years, the news media reported.

About five minutes after learning his fate, a video showed him covering his mouth with his hands and swallowing, according to the news media.

He was also sometimes seen drinking from a bottle of sports drink.

Moments later, he turned and spoke to the people behind him and grabbed a tissue from a woman. He seemed to be crying, but his body twisted in violent convulsions.

Ten minutes later, Marin was put into an ambulance and taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to reports.

"Frum Chusid" refuses to deliver his own baby, so he hails down a Tow truck driver!

A Crazy Chusid Shotah!

 Bronx New York tow truck driver gave a big boost yesterday to a twisted pair - he delivered a baby after her Orthodox Jewish husband refused to help.

Antonio Paulino, 50, was driving in East Harlem yesterday afternoon when a man marked him down.
"He said, 'My wife is giving birth,'" said Paulino. But the father-to-be is an Orthodox Jew and said his religion forbade him to touch the baby or the mother.

"I reached into the woman and took the baby out," said Paulino.
The mother and baby were then taken to the hospital.

The mother and the baby are fine.

According to Jewish law however a husband or any man is permitted to help and touch any woman during a medical emergency. The claim of the Orthodox Jewish man that he was not allowed to touch his wife or his baby is totally incorrect.

Gaza Terrorists fire 25 rockets at Sderot, Israel! Nobody cares!

Gaza-based terrorists fired 25 rockets into southern Israel on Saturday, causing damage to a school and factory. The latest attacks bring the total number of rockets and other projectiles fired from the Strip to approximately 150 over the past six days.

Israeli security chiefs held a series of emergency consultations on Saturday — including a meeting of defense chiefs with Defense Minister Ehud Barak — and decided to try to avoid a further escalation of hostilities. Amid reports from Gaza Saturday night that Hamas was now seeking a ceasefire, security sources said “quiet will be met with quiet, but further rocket fire will be met with further fire [from Israel].” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also involved in the consultations.

The sources said Israel had no interest in a major military response to the upsurge in rocket fire, given the current sensitivities in the region including the tension surrounding Egypt’s elections, the ongoing violence in Syria and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Israel this week.

A senior IDF official also speculated that Hamas wants to stop an escalation of hostilities in Gaza. He said that the group aims to prevent the launching of long-range rockets, despite pressure from other Islamist groups in Gaza to act otherwise. He summed up the nature of the ceasefire terms as “Quiet met by quiet, and fire met by fire.”

As of Saturday night, plans were for schools in the South to open as usual Sunday, provided there was no further escalation.

The majority of the rockets launched Saturday were aimed at the southern city of Sderot, but several landed in other parts of the Eshkol, Hof Ashkelon and Shaar Hanegev Regional Councils, which border the Strip.

One of the rockets exploded in Sderot’s industrial zone, causing moderate-to-severe injuries to one man and damaging a factory.

According to Magen David Adom paramedics who arrived at the scene, the 50-year-old man was hit in the neck by shrapnel from the explosion.

Another rocket caused damage to a school in Sderot, but there were no reports of injuries. The school had been reinforced against rocket fire.

Several area residents were treated for shock.

Iron Dome shot down 10 of the incoming rockets, according to Israel Radio.

Six of the rockets landed around neighboring Netivot.

The IDF instructed local residents to remain no more than 15 seconds away from a safe, enclosed space.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz visited the South ahead of consultations with senior officials to discuss the military’s next steps.

Sderot mayor David Buskila convened a special meeting Saturday morning with police and Home Front Command officials. He demanded that the government restore calm to his city.

“We have known this reality for 11 years already,” Buskila said. “We demand that quiet be restored to the city. At least the relative calm, which has allowed us to do many good things.”

The mayor called on the government to act, and said that the city’s center for victims of stress and anxiety was open and had already received several residents.

During a visit to Sderot and neighboring towns surrounding the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said “Israel cannot remain silent following the events in the South in recent days.”

He said Israel holds Hamas fully responsible for everything happening around the Gaza Strip, and that Israel will continue to use a heavy hand against anyone who tries to escalate the situation.

In an afternoon strike, the Air Force targeted and killed a terrorist in northern Gaza near Jabaliya who was making final preparations for a rocket launch. Later, the IAF bombed a second terrorist cell en route to launching rockets outside Gaza City. Palestinian sources reported one dead, 10 injured, and damage to nearby buildings.

Hamas’s Izz al-Din al-Kassam Brigades released a statement following the airstrikes promising to escalate the violence in response to the IDF attacks.

“If the Zionist occupation didn’t understand the message of the resistance in the last week, we are ready to smash its arrogance and repress its criminality,” the statement said.

Israeli Air Force jets bombed three Hamas military bases in the Strip early Saturday morning. Palestinian sources reported that at least 20 people were injured in the airstrikes.

The IDF Spokesperson said the strikes against targets in northern and central Gaza came in response to the ongoing firing of rockets at Israel over the past several days.

Gaza health official Ashraf Al Kedra said that a boy was killed in an airstrike Saturday morning in Khan Younis, but the IDF responded unequivocally that it did not attack that part of the Strip. Palestinian rockets often misfire and explode inside Gaza.

Palestinian terrorists fired a total of six rockets at Israel on Friday, causing no damage or injuries. Twelve rockets hit Israel on Thursday, according to the spokesperson’s office.

Multiple IAF strikes carried out Friday against terrorists operating in the Strip killed two and injured at least four others.

According to Palestinian sources, the IAF targeted a motorcyclist in one of the airstrikes, who was driving northwest of Gaza City, killing him.

Earlier on Friday, a terrorist was killed and two others injured as they prepared to fire rockets into Israel near the al-Bureij refugee camp in the Strip, reported the IDF Spokesperson.

Palestinian officials in Gaza reported that the terrorist killed in the strike on al-Bureij belonged to a pro al-Qaeda, fringe Salafist Islamist group, which Israel holds responsible for a deadly cross-border attack from Egypt’s Sinai on Monday, in which an Israeli civilian was killed.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza terrorist targets have killed at least six Palestinians since Monday.

A Hamas spokesman said on Friday that his organization would respond severely to any aggression on Israel’s part and rejected reports that a ceasefire had been reached between the sides.

On Thursday, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor lodged a formal complaint with the Security Council and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon regarding the recent barrage of attacks from the Strip. He called on the international community to recognize Israel’s right to self-defense.

“So long as there are no quiet towns in southern Israel, Gaza won’t be quiet either,” Prosor said. He also protested what he said was the fact that Israel’s compliance with UN demands to allow aid into Gaza is met with rocket fire.

Dan Schwartz Calls Out Journal News & Parents of East Ramapo for being Anti-Semites! Video

Notice: the captions on the video were added later probably by a Journal News reporter. The captions do not address the blatant anti-Semitic statements by the parents of East Ramapo and are either totally false at worst and misleading at best. The Board was  elected in a democratic election, by people fed up with paying the highest property taxes in the State of New York.... The Public Schools in East Ramapo are empty of students but the parents will not allow the Board to sell the buildings and consolidate the students..

4 Weberman gangsters arrested for intimidating rape victim in Williamsburg! Video

Mishkoltzer (Berger) Rabbis sons arrested for obstruction of justice

After several weeks of insisting that he will prosecute anyone who uses what he termed “mafia style intimidation” to prevent witnesses from testifying in sexual abuse cases,  Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes has made four arrests this morning in Williamsburg.
According to DNAinfo.com , several of the men offered the victim in the widely publicized Weberman abuse case $500,000 to drop all charges in the case.  Sources say that when she refused to do so, the men responded by persuading a rav hamachshir removed his hechsher from a restaurant with which she is affiliated.
The four men, three of whom are brothers, were removed from their homes in handcuffs early this morning and 
are expected to be arraigned later today.

Frummies Stone Lady and her baby in Beit Shemesh!

Ultra Orthodox Jews threw stones at a woman driver in Beit Shemesh, on Wednesday, the news media has learned. The window glass of the vehicle of the woman was broken, but the woman herself was unharmed, police said. It is suspected that she was attacked for wearing immodest clothing.

Police have launched an investigation but no suspects have been located so far.
Beit Shemesh, became famous earlier this year after numerous reports of humiliation and violence against women in the city began to appear.

Earlier this month it was reported that a local supermarket had instructed its customers to dress modestly and always dress in black. The supermarket Osher Ad announced later removed that the signs were removed.Six months ago, a woman was injured after being attacked by dozens of Ultra Orthodox Jews in Beit Shemesh.
"They broke all the windows of the car and threw stones at me. I asked them to stop and promised to leave, but they did not let me go," she said later.

Yossi Gestetner rsigns as Jewish Republican Director because of his extreme anti-Israel position!

The head of the State Republican Party for Jewish Outreach abruptly resigned after the news media started asking questions about his background.

Yossi Gestetner admits he has been associated with controversial issues.
He was a spokesman for a fundraiser benefiting an alleged child molester.

He did media outreach for a group that does not want Israel to be a Jewish state. He said Republicans offer more services than Democrats in government.
"It is not my business or the business of any professional, to go out and before talking to the person to say, 'OK, let's see, how Jewish is he or not Jewish? Do I agree or disagree with everything he stands for? '"he said.

While the state’s 1.6 million Jews are hardly united, it is clear that many would disagree with Gestetner. And that has made it more difficult for him to get them out of their traditionally Democratic vote.


In an interview recorded for the news media, Gestetner said an observant Jew suspected of sexual abuse should go to a rabbi first. He added that a rabbi should be directed the matter rather than the police.

"It is better that people should see at least one rabbi to advise them how to proceed," he said. "Because too often, especially in the criminal justice system, they jump to conclusions."
Gestetner also worked for True Torah Jews against Zionism this may have been the most radioactive of his past.
"The idea that an official of the main political parties would be against the idea of a Jewish state is something that hits close to home."
Gestetner said he has family in Israel and only wants their success.

Victoria Gardens in Monsey defaced with Anti-semetic Grafitti

This appeared in the lobby of 1 Victoria Gardens in Monsey....

Time to tell the Management, "either clean up your act or we will take our business elseware.

Weberman's (the accused rapist) trial postponed because Satmar Yeshivah will not release records!

Rabbi Nechemya Weberman’s child rape trial has been delayed because Satmar’s United Talmudical Academy has not responded to letters and subpoenas for records on Weberman.

Weberman’s attorneys want the records.

"The only way to obtain these records at this point is to threaten the school and its administration with contempt," Weberman’s attorney George Farkas told the New York Post.
Justice Ruth Shillingford said she is considering hitting UTA with contempt charges.

Weberman’s now-17-year-old alleged victim, who has been vilified by the Williamsburg community, is undaunted, Joel Engelman, anti-abuse activist (and alleged UTA victim), told the Post.

"She's very strong in her conviction to go forward," he said. "But she's been made to feel very uncomfortable."

Posters put up throughout Williamsburg depicted her as a missile about to destroy the Williamsburg hasidic community.

Stolin Advertises on the Internet!

see link for yourself:

http://www.campusexplorer.com/programs/A5A965D0/New-York/Brooklyn/Yeshiva-Karlin-Stolin/?utm_medium=Display&utm_source=Google+Display+-+CDP

hat tip: Nochemrosenberg

Yossi Gestetner the defender of the accused rapist Weberman hired as the "Director of Jewish Outreach" by Republicans!

Read the announcement by the NYS Republican Commitee

"Today, The New York Republican State Committee announced Yossi Gestetner as the Director of Jewish Outreach.

During the last seven years, Mr. Gestetner has been a resilient voice for Conservative values and Republican ideals. Published and broadcast in a wide spectrum of Jewish media outlets, Yossi has illustrated his broad understanding and deep connection to members of the Jewish Community. For years, Yossi has worked with leaders and activists on a host of issues important to the Jewish Community and beyond.

The New York GOP looks forward to working closely with Yossi in creating a stronger New York for all."

Yossi owns "Kol Mevaser" a yiddish news radio show.. and is in the habit of defending anyone who looks like a chasid who is a rapist or a child abuser.

"Thank You Hitler For the Holocaust" Graffiti sprayed at Yad Vashem! Chareidim Suspected!

Police believe that the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel graffiti attack on Yad Vashem Holocaust museum was perpetrated by haredi (ultra-Orthodox) extremists, Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben Ruby said Sunday

One spray-painted slogan read “If Hitler hadn’t existed, the Zionists would have invented him.” "Thanks Hitler for the wonderful Holocaust you organized for us! Only because of you we received a state," read another, while a third slogan read, "Jews, wake up, the evil regime does not protect us, it only endangers us."

Ten graffiti slogans were spray-painted in black in large letters concentrated in the Warsaw Ghetto Square and the Deportees Memorial next to the cattle car. Yad Vashem chairman Avner Shalev said the graffiti “crossed a red line,” and said it was the worst thing he had seen in his career. “Throughout all of Jewish society and Israeli society [Yad Vashem is] a symbol of unity, of tolerance, of values and openness, of discourse and dialogue among all types of ideas,” said Shalev. He added that the museum had not experienced any type of vandalism in recent years, and certainly nothing on this scale. The main courtyard of the museum, the Warsaw Ghetto courtyard, was covered with slogans that stretched more than two meters tall and five meters wide, encompassing entire walls surrounding the memorial statue in the front of the courtyard. The vandals most likely entered the museum campus from the Jerusalem forest, which surrounds the museum. Shalev said that although the museum retains a private security force, the 45 acre campus is so large that anyone who truly wanted to vandalize the museum would find a way to slip into the campus. Footage from the museum’s security cameras was immediately transferred to the police. Shalev also said that the Hebrew graffiti appeared to be from at least two different people because the handwriting was different. Jerusalem Police Chief Nisso Shaham called the incident "shocking" and said "We must investigate and deal quickly with these despicable acts... in which one of Israel's important symbols was attacked." Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar said that the vandals desecrated the museum with the “intention of offending public sensibilities.” The museum was not closed to visitors except for the vandalized area, and around 3,000 people were expected to visit on Monday. Workers from Yad Vashem milled around the courtyard. “It’s difficult to stand here,” said one worker, as she looked at the graffiti. 
 Jpost.com staff contributed to this article

R' Pinchas Abuhatzeira worth 350 million, Belz and Gerrer Rebbis worth from 50 - 100 million each!

From Forbes....

Gerrer Rebbi

Rabbi Yaakov Arie Altar the grand rabbi of Gur is in third place with a fortune of around $100 million. Rabbi Issachar Dov Rokeach the grand rabbi of Belz is in fourth place with a fortune of $50 million.

Rabbi Pinchas Abuhatzeira, the grandson of the Babi Sali, is Israel's richest rabbi with a fortune of estimated at $350 million, according Forbes Israel which ranks the richest people of the world. Forbes has now been ranking the ten richest rabbis of Israel.

Many rabbis are active in the world of business by being partners or owners of companies. The chief rabbis also invest in capital markets and real estate in Israel and other countries.

Rabbi David Hai Abuhatzeira is considered an expert in finance, with investments in real estate and stocks in Israel and around the world.

Students may never be expelled! R' Ovadia Yosef

Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita released a message to directors of mosdot connected to Shas’ educational network, stating in no uncertain terms that if a student acts in an unacceptable fashion, the school may not expel the child.

The gadol hador’s comments come after a former talmid of a yeshiva who was expelled took his own life R”L.

The rav instructs heads of mosdos to be patient. “Blessed are those who work in torah, which is a burden carried every day. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev stated that when there is a mischievous child who will not sit still, he is right. Why? He has a great neshama and a small body – and it suffers. Therefore, he is not to blame. You must endure it and deal with him gently”.

“How good it is when one exhibits patience. This child will become a talmid chacham and not a simple person. If thrown out of yeshiva, where will he go? He will go to a secular school. What will become of him? He will become wild. Tolerate him and at the very least he will remain G-d fearing”.

“I would like to tell you about me when I was in Porat Yosef. There was a teacher with students, older students, about 15-years-old. He was ill. The principal called upon me to take his place. They warned me about one child in particular, a most mischievous child. He never remained in one place and never sat still. He would utter a word during the shiur and everyone laughed. And what did I do? I fulfilled my shlichus.

“I got hold of him and asked ‘Do you know what you are going to be? You will be a great rav and teacher in Am Yisrael, a profound torah scholar. Come and sit by my side.’ We began Gemara Moed Katan and learned. I frequently looked at him and asked ‘Nu what do you say? Do you agree?’ He shook his head in agreement. He was embarrassed in front of me. he did not speak and did not interrupt. And he indeed became a rosh yeshiva in Tel Aviv. Why? Because I knew how to get close to him”.

“Don’t throw them out. What do you think this is like throwing a rock? We are dealing with nefoshos! This is dinei nefoshos. Our Rabbonim only addressed dinei nefoshos when there was a Sanhedrin, 23 chachamim. This is dinei nefoshos. You throw him out and what will be with him then? You know what will be? Do you accept responsibility for what he will become?”

“Therefore, you must love him and smother him with love, bnei yisrael whose future is to become gedolei yisrael. To bring them closer with sweet words and this is how we bring them into the torah fold.”

“Think of this child as your son, what would you do? You would tolerate him! this is a son, your son! ‘’ושננתם לבנך, refers to your students.”

Muhammad Ali attends his grandson's Bar Mitzvah

Muhammad Ali was in town last November for the funeral of Smokin’ Joe Frazier, but it turns out the boxing legend was back in the area several weeks back for the bar mitzvah of his grandson Jacob Wertheimer at Rodeph Shalom on North Broad Street.

Khaliah Ali-Wertheimer, Jacob’s mother, told Ali biographer Thomas Hauser that though her father raised his children Muslim, he was "supportive in every way. He followed everything and looked at the Torah very closely."

"It meant a lot to Jacob that he was there," she told Hauser, who reported on the bar mitzvah at TheSweetScience.com.

"I was born and raised as a Muslim," Khaliah said, "but I’m not into organized religion. I’m more spiritual than religious. My husband is Jewish. No one put any pressure on Jacob to believe one way or another. He chose this on his own because he felt a kinship with Judaism and Jewish culture." Her husband is attorney Spencer Wertheimer


Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/Muhammad-Ali-was-here-for-grandsons-bar-mitzvah.html?cmpid=138887484#ixzz1xEEjyiul
Watch sports videos you won't find anywhere else

11 Babies infected with herpes because of "Mezizah B'peh", 2 died and 2 have brain damage

None of the mohelim are identified by name in the current CDC report. However, previous news accounts of neonatal herpes infections following ritual Jewish circumcision and oral suction in 2003 and 2004 identified Rabbi Yitzchock Fischer as the mohel. He was subsequently banned from performing the ritual in New York City.

None of the mohelim are identified by name in the current CDC report. However, previous news accounts of neonatal herpes infections following ritual Jewish circumcision and oral suction in 2003 and 2004 identified Rabbi Yitzchock Fischer as the mohel. He was subsequently banned from performing the ritual in New York City.

The report is sure to reignite a long-simmering debate over public health and religious liberties: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Thursday that 11 baby boys in New York City were infected with herpes between Nov. 2000 and Dec. 2011 following an ultra-Orthodox Jewish circumcision ritual called metzitzah b’peh — or oral suction — in which the mohel puts his mouth directly on the newborn’s circumcised penis and sucks away the blood.

Ten of the babies were hospitalized, at least two developed brain damage and two died, according to the New York City health department. In 2005, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked rabbis throughout the city to move away from performing metzitzah b’peh — and also issued an open letter [PDF] to the Jewish community warning of the health risks — but they refused claiming the practice was safe.

(MORE: Battle of the Bris: A Move to Outlaw Circumcision in San Francisco)

According to the CDC report, the investigation into circumcision-related herpes infections in newborns began in 2004 when New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) was notified of twin boys who had contracted herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1, the type that causes cold sores and is usually transmitted orally) following circumcision with metzitzah b’peh; one twin died. Both twins were circumcised by the same mohel, whom the CDC report refers to as “mohel A.”

During the investigation, the DOHMH learned of another 2003 case of neonatal HSV-1 infection after circumcision, also involving mohel A. In all three cases, the babies’ mothers and the hospital staff who cared for the infants had no history of herpes infection. When mohel A was tested about three months after the 2004 circumcisions, he showed antibodies to HSV in his blood, but was not found to be actively shedding the virus.

In all three cases, the babies developed lesions or vesicles in their genital areas about 8 to 10 days after their ritual circumcision; the timing and location of the babies’ symptoms suggest that the infections were introduced during circumcision, the CDC reports. The health officials’ investigation further uncovered eight other similar cases through Dec. 2011 in New York City, bringing the total to 11.

(MORE: Circumcision: The Surgery that May Lower Prostate-Cancer Risk)

About 85% of all neonatal HSV infections (including HSV-2, which causes genital herpes) are transmitted during delivery from an infected mother, 5% of infections are congenital and 10% are acquired after birth, usually from adult caregivers. HSV-1 is extremely common in the adult population — infecting some 73% of New York City adults over 20 — but the CDC report finds that HSV-1 infection in baby boys is rare, with about three cases a year on average in New York City.

Based on the overall incidence of neonatal HSV infections, total birth statistics and estimates of boys being circumcised with direct oral-genital suction (about 3,564 a year in New York City), health officials estimate that the risk of HSV infection in baby boys after metzitzah b’peh is 3.4 times greater than in boys who aren’t exposed to oral suction. Overall, the risk of herpes infection following metzitzah b’peh was 24.4 per 100,000 baby boys between April 2006 and Dec. 2011, the CDC estimates.

The authors of the CDC report write:

Circumcision is a surgical procedure that can transmit infection if not performed under sterile conditions. Oral contact with an open wound in a neonate risks transmission of HSV and other pathogens. Professionals advising parents and parents choosing Jewish ritual circumcision should be aware of this risk, and direct orogenital suction should be avoided.

New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley also released a statement [PDF] urging that metzitzah b’peh not be performed. The health department also announced that several New York City hospitals, including those serving Hasidic Jewish communities, have agreed to distribute a brochure [PDF] describing the herpes risk to infants and advising parents considering out-of-hospital Jewish circumcision to ask the mohel before the bris whether he practices metzitzah b’peh. If so, parents can talk to their health-care providers and consider other options for circumcision.

“There is no safe way to perform oral suction on any open wound in a newborn,” Farley said. “Parents considering ritual Jewish circumcision need to know that circumcision should only be performed under sterile conditions, like any other procedures that create open cuts, whether by mohelim or medical professionals.”

During the course of the DOHMH investigation, health officials determined that four mohelim were confirmed to be involved in seven of the herpes cases. In two of those cases (involving the same mohel who circumcised two brothers three years apart), parents declined to reveal the identify of the practitioner, so it’s not clear whether he was the same mohel involved in any of the other cases. Therefore, the total number of mohelim involved in the 11 cases can’t be determined, but the investigators presume it is at least three and not more than eight.

(MORE: Study: Women with Circumcised Partners May Have Lower HPV Risk)

None of the mohelim are identified by name in the current CDC report. However, previous news accounts of neonatal herpes infections following ritual Jewish circumcision and oral suction in 2003 and 2004 identified Rabbi Yitzchock Fischer as the mohel. He was subsequently banned from performing the ritual in New York City.

“We’re not oblivious to what’s going on,” Rabbi David Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America, told the New York Times in March, regarding the health risks surrounding metzitzah b’peh. He added: “The worst thing that could happen is if the authorities regulate this practice, then it could go underground. … I think the practice would continue, but there could be significant difficulty in gathering evidence.”

The CDC report is published in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/07/how-11-new-york-city-babies-contracted-herpes-through-circumcision/#ixzz1x8nUkEOs