Why Religion/Crime Doesn't Pay

Read these articles and then answer the questions below.

From the Associated Press.

NEW YORK City health officials are investigating the death of a baby boy who was one of three infants to contract herpes after a Rockland County-based rabbi circumcised them.

Ten days after Rabbi Yitzhok Fischer performed a bris, or religious circumcision, on twins last October, one infant died of herpes and the other tested positive for the virus, according to Wednesday's edition of the Daily News.

Health officials later found a third baby, on Staten Island, that tested positive for herpes and was circumcised by Fischer in late 2003.

Under Jewish law, a mohel -- someone who performs circumcisions -- draws blood from the circumcision wound. Most mohels do it by hand, but Fischer uses a rare practice where he uses his mouth, called ``metzizah bi peh.''

The city ``is concerned that the possible transmission of herpes simplex virus type 1 in infants may be continuing as a result of defendant's practice of metzizah bi peh,'' city lawyers wrote in the Dec. 22 complaint filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Fischer's lawyer, Mark Kurzmann, told the Daily News that Fischer was cooperating with the investigation, although it's unclear whether Fischer submitted to the city's request for a blood test.

``My client is known internationally as a caring, skilled, and conscientious mohel,'' Kurzmann said.

and another article, NY1

City health officials are trying to stop a Rockland County rabbi from performing circumcisions, after a baby boy died from herpes he allegedly contracted from the rabbi during a circumcision.

The city Department of Health said Wednesday it is seeking a permanent injunction against Rabbi Yitzhok Fischer. The DOH says Fischer uses an ancient religious custom of using his mouth to suck the infant's blood after cutting the foreskin.

According to court papers filed in Manhattan, a 3-week-old boy died from herpes 10 days after he and his twin brother were circumcised by Fischer in October. The boy’s twin was also infected with the virus.

In addition, a Staten Island boy was also reportedly infected with herpes after a circumcision performed by Fischer in 2003.

DOH officials say Fischer did not comply with an order given in November to stop performing circumcisions and to have his blood tested.

“Infants, particularly under the age of six months, are highly susceptible to infections. They do not have a functioning immune system," said Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden.

Fischer's attorney says his client is cooperating with the city in an effort to determine what he says it “the true source” of the infection.

Questions:

1) Why did the Rabbi continue to perform this procedure in this way, if he knew that he had herpes, and could spread it to a child?

2) His lawyer stated that his client "is known internationally as a caring, skilled, and conscientious mohel." What does that have to do with anything? How does the Rabbi's reputation figure into how this story was reported?

3) No one so far is coming forth to press charges against this man. Why?

4) How and when does religion make space for crimes?

5) This is a major story. Why haven't most people heard about it?

6) When did you first hear about it?

Wednesday, February 09, 2005 @ 11:12 AM