WITHOUT MILAH AND TEVILAH

language, the Conference turned to reform of marriage and divorce. Wise’s contribution came when they turned to a resolution on circumcision:"The male child of a Jewish mother is no less than the female child- in accordance with a never-disputed principle of Judaism - to be considered a Jew by descent even though uncircumcised.” Wise proposed to add the following:"The Abrahamitic circumcision is not a requirement for the entrance into Judaism , and just as its absence does not exclude an Israelite from the Jewish community, so circumcision of proselytes should not be required as an act of initiation." Einhorn opposed this statement revealing a theology in the tradition of Judah Halevi and the Mabharal of Prague . Circumcision serves as a wall to keep impure elements out of Judaism .’ Wise saw it in the opposite way, the demand for circumcision keeps the best people out. The conference rejected Wise’s proposal.

Another public discussion of the issue occurred when Rabbi Moritz Spitz, then rabbi of Emanuel Congregation in Milwaukee, addressed a question to a number of rabbis in 1878.7 A young man, son of Christian parents, had come to him. He was in love with a Jewish woman, daughter of Orthodox parents. He had proclaimed himself ready to accept Judaism fully, but would not allow himself to be circumcised. After several attempts to separate the couple, her parents had reconciled themselves to allow the marriage if the young man converted even without milah(if that were permitted); they wanted to keep their daughter and her descendants Jewish . Rabbi Spitz asked three questions:

1. Can he accept the man without milah?: 2. Can he become a full member of a Jewish

congregation?: 3. Does he as a rabbi have the right to marry them?

He knew that from the point of view of halakhah there could be no conversion without milah and tevilah; but it seemed to

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