Praise for Celebrating Brit Shalom
"It is such a beautiful book. Really thoughtful and well organized. I think you tackle the issue with intellect, plurality, tolerance and care. Very impressive."
—Rabbi Lori Shapiro, The Open Temple, Venice CA
"Celebrating Brit Shalom is a remarkably honest, beautiful, and sacred offering reimagining one of the most highly charged Jewish practices—circumcision. Whatever your views on brit milah the ceremonies in this book are wise, sensitive, and poetic attempts to honor both genuine painful human experience and the desire to enter the covenantal drama of this people. Celebrating Brit Shalom will help thousands of people and no doubt open up new conversations of heart, mind and spirit. A loving, healthy, and holy religion should not only permit nothing less but should celebrate such efforts." —Rabbi Irwin Kula, President of The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership
"There has long been an undercurrent of debate and dissent about circumcision among Jews. Is it necessary, humane, moral to welcome a baby boy into the community through an act of violence? Lisa Braver Moss and Rebecca Wald offer a loving alternative, a joyous non-violent ceremony. I wish I'd had this book when my own son was born!"
—Michael Kimmel, Director, Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities, Stony Brook University
"Celebrating Brit Shalom is a milestone: the first-ever book written for Jewish families, like mine, that have carefully weighed the potential benefits and risks of infant circumcision and have decided to opt out. Without being preachy or judgmental of those families who make a different choice, Celebrating Brit Shalom gets the tone just right." —Jennifer Margulis, author of Your Baby, Your Way
"As a modern orthodox rabbi I can not be expected to speak on behalf of families who choose to not have a traditional brit (circumcision) for their son. However, as a modern orthodox rabbi I must be sensitive to this trend and most certainly I must not 'close the door' to their participation fully in all aspects of Jewish life. The book Celebrating Brit Shalom is a positive attempt to keeping those doors open. I applaud the authors and their collaborators for this volume whose impact on the Jewish world will be judged only in future years. Such sincere attempts to bring meaningful ceremonies to light are part of our long history as a proud people." —Rabbi Simcha A. Green
"Holistic and naturally-minded parenting is no longer a fad, it's a way of life for many of today's parents. Jewish parents are of course included in this group. In deciding not to circumcise, parents are recognizing that the body functions best in its natural state, and that trauma to the newborn should be avoided when possible. Finally an alternative for families questioning circumcision and embracing their faith." —Brian Leaf, author of Misadventures of a Parenting Yogi
"Without asking anyone’s permission, Braver Moss and Wald have crafted a beautiful series of alternative welcoming ceremonies that are in deep conversation with the Jewish tradition. The fact that Celebrating Brit Shalom exists is a testament to both the ingenuity of its creators and the vitality of the Jewish tradition…. Welcome to Kickstarter Judaism, where committed, textually savvy Jews make an end-run around the institutions that have failed them and take back their tradition."
—Eli Ungar-Sargon from his review in Tikkun.
"A real contribution. The authors steer clear of polemics and simply present brit shalom as a choice, which makes the book particularly powerful. Most importantly, the lovely ceremonies they have designed will help families express their Jewish values in new and old ways." —Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller, Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco CA
