Abiding act of faith

Like most Jews in the former Soviet Union, Avigdor Roppoport grew up in a secular home. He went through life uncircumcised — not by choice, but by culture.

When he was in his 20s, it was something he yearned to change.

“I decided a long time ago when I lived in Moscow, but there wasn’t an opportunity,” said Mr. Roppoport, now 45 and a Rockville resident since 1990.

In the United States, society wouldn’t stand in his way. So in December 2003, he embraced the rite.

“From a religious point of view, it’s very important,” Mr. Roppoport said. “It’s a very big step.”

The ritual goes back thousands of years to Genesis 17:10, where God said to Abraham: “This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.”

Russian immigrants of all ages and levels of observance have acted on these beliefs. For decades under the communist regime, many had pondered where, when and how they could make this critical leap.

“For a Jewish man, it’s axiomatic to be circumcised. It’s part and parcel of the identity. It has been for thousands of years and will continue to be so in the future,” said Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld of Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah, an Orthodox synagogue in Northwest.

Under Soviet rule, some parents went to great lengths to circumcise under utmost secrecy. One woman took her newborn to the cemetery at night, alone, and performed the ritual herself. She followed ancient custom by carrying it out on his eighth day of life — just as generations had done.

“There are many stories like that,” said Rabbi Tshi Schur of Jewish Family Services in Baltimore.

“Circumcision was forbidden,” he said. “It was against Soviet law because it was a religious act.”

Now in the United States, many immigrants say it’s better late than never, pointing out that Abraham, ancestor of the Jewish people, circumcised himself at age 99.

Among immigrants, the decision often crystallized after decades of deliberation and gradual acceptance of religious practices.

“Their fears were very real. It’s a serious operation,” said Mr. Herzfeld, who has counseled Russian Jews on ritual circumcision. “We shouldn’t minimize the possibility of pain that people will be feeling.”

Circumcision offers several health benefits, said Dr. Marc Goldstein, professor of urology and chief male reproductive surgeon at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Goldstein has performed circumcisions on many adult Russian Jews.

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