"Eye Crying Bitterly and Heart Rejoicing" - an Intimate Maternal Process in the Context of the Jewish Rite of Circumcision: A Psychological Perspective Based on Interpretative-Phenomenological Analysis

In recent years the Jewish rite of circumcision has come under attack. Questions regarding its necessity and relevance come from various fronts, among them parenting, health, gender, ethics and childrens` rights. Another development is what seems to be the greater activity and involvement of females than males, across these fronts.

This reality prompted the focus of this lecture which concentrates on parenting, i.e. an investigation of Anglo-Jewish mothers’ meanings of the rite to which their son was submitted. Based on the research method Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study identified three main themes in the mothers’ narratives: protectiveness, femaleness and intimacy. The study examines the process participant mothers went through, from basically dreading the experience in the outset and wishing to protect their son, whilst concluding it with joy of that being done as well as celebrating, with its aftermath, the physical result. At the same time, they did not ignore the lack of a parallel significant ceremony for the Jewish girl.

The mothers tell their story in a context of a relationship with a Jewish male partner, with all which that this can mean. At the same time they were part of a Jewish community, but living in a host culture, the UK, which can be critical of this experience. In accordance with the IPA method, I will bring the voice of one mother, Rebecca (pseudoname), which, on the one hand, is unique, but on the other, also reflects a collective experience.