Brit Milah is a Jewish religious ceremony in which a male infant is circumcised and is performed eight days after the birth of a male child. It is customary for a brit milah to be held in a synagogue or in the home of the newborn ("Circumcision in Judaism"). This is the first mitzvah to be performed on a Jewish child. This mitzvah connects the child to God and demonstrates that we all believe in one God (Ibid). Furthermore, it is proven that this is a mitzvah because it fulfills God's commandments that the body of a Jewish male must be physically different from that of Gentiles (Ibid). Although the brit milah is a mitzvah in the Jewish religion, there is much controversy regarding the act, with many arguments for and against banning the brit milah. Brit milah is a customary religious act that should be adhered to even if there are some health concerns and some believe that it is a violation of physical integrity. Ultimately, brit milah should not be banned as banning such an act would violate religious freedom which is clearly more important than any concerns about the actual procedure. There are many arguments for and against banning brit milah that factor heavily into the decision. of such a ban. Many arguments in favor of the ban have rational reasoning, however the opinions of the opposing side are much stronger. First, according to the human rights code, all human beings should be able to make their own decisions regarding their bodies, thus avoiding violation of physical integrity (Putzke). All humans should be able to consent to tampering with their genitals, especially since this procedure is not medically necessary for the child's health (Ibid). Any health risks, such as HIV, will not come into play until man... middle of paper... hundreds of centuries has harmed the health of the child. This procedure is actually in the child's best interest since it is in accordance with the core beliefs of his or her faith. It is clearly demonstrated that having a brit milah is essential for a Jewish child, and banning the medical procedure can cause harmful harm to Jews who have strong religious beliefs. This religious custom is extremely important and plays a fundamental role in the Jewish religion. Additionally, the health risks that can occur in a Brit Milah are very rare, making the procedure almost risk-free. Although some may argue that this procedure violates a person's physical integrity, parental consent is permitted. Banning the brit milah will infringe on religious freedoms which are a fundamental human right and clearly more harmful than any opinion advocating a ban on the brit milah..