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There are moments in life when you stumble across something so utterly vile, so completely beyond human decency, that you feel like screaming into the void.

This is one of those moments.

If you’re unfamiliar with Metzitzah B’peh (MBP), I almost envy you. I wish I didn’t know. I wish I hadn’t read about innocent newborns being subjected to this horror. But now I do. And now, so do you.

What the Hell is Metzitzah B’peh?

Let’s not sugarcoat this. MBP is a religious practice still performed in some ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities, where, after a baby boy is circumcised, the mohel (religious officiant) places his mouth over the bleeding wound and sucks out the blood.

Yes, you read that right. An adult man, using his mouth, on an infant’s open wound.

Take a second. Let it sink in. Because once it does, it will never leave you.

The Unforgivable Medical Horror

Let’s move past the sheer disgust for a moment and talk cold, hard facts.

• Newborns have DIED from herpes contracted through this practice.
• The CDC and other medical bodies have linked MBP to brain damage, seizures, lifelong disabilities, and death.
• Since babies have weak immune systems, herpes in a newborn can be fatal—and yet, this still happens.
• In New York alone, dozens of babies have been hospitalised, some left permanently disabled, because of this practice.

We have documented cases of infants dying because an infected mohel passed herpes onto them via their mouth.

I can’t even believe I have to say this, but here we are: THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS.

This isn’t “tradition.” This isn’t “faith.” This is abuse. This is assault. This is negligence at best, criminal at worst.

If This Happened Outside of Religion…

Let’s put it in perspective:

• If a random person did this to a baby, they’d be arrested immediately.
• If a doctor knowingly infected a baby with herpes, they’d lose their licence, get sued, and face criminal charges.
• If a parent allowed this to happen, social services would take their child away.

But when it’s done under the umbrella of “religion,” suddenly we’re supposed to tiptoe around it? Excuse me?!

This is what happens when people prioritise tradition over human life. This is what happens when the law bends to religious sensitivities instead of protecting innocent children.

The Spineless Legal System

Authorities KNOW this is happening. They’ve tried soft regulations like parental consent forms, but ultra-Orthodox leaders fought back—and the government caved.

In 2012, New York attempted to introduce a simple rule: before MBP could be performed, parents had to sign a consent form.

You’d think this would be a bare minimum, right? Wrong.

The rule was scrapped in 2015 after religious groups complained it was “infringing on religious freedom.”

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM?

What about the baby’s freedom to not have his genitals placed in a grown man’s mouth? What about the baby’s freedom to not be exposed to a virus that could kill him?

The fact that this is allowed to continue proves just how spineless the system is when it comes to challenging religious power.

Religion is NOT a Free Pass for Abuse

I don’t care how old the tradition is. I don’t care how sacred someone claims it to be.

If your belief system justifies harming a child, your belief system is wrong.

Religious freedom should never come before a baby’s right to survive.

Would we allow a Christian, Muslim, or Hindu sect to introduce a practice where adults had mouth contact with newborn genitals? HELL NO.

Yet here we are, in 2025, still debating whether or not sucking blood from an infant’s open wound is okay. What the actual fuck?

Who is Holding These People Accountable?

🔴 The government? Nope. Too scared of backlash. 🔴 Religious leaders? Nope. They fight tooth and nail to keep this “tradition” alive. 🔴 Medical professionals? They’ve spoken out—but they can’t stop it without legal action. 🔴 The public? Most don’t even know this is happening.

This is why we need awareness.

This is why we need anger.

This is why we need action.

What Needs to Happen NOW

🔥 Outright BANS: MBP should be illegal, no exceptions. 🔥 Criminal Charges: Mohels who infect babies should be charged with manslaughter. 🔥 Accountability: If a parent knowingly allows this, they should face neglect charges. 🔥 Public Outrage: The only reason this still happens is because most people don’t know about it.

Enough is Enough

We live in a world where people freak out over vaccines but somehow ignore a practice where a man literally puts his mouth on a baby’s genitals and sucks blood from an open wound.

Let’s be clear: this is monstrous. Not “sacred.” Not “holy.” Monstrous.

The world doesn’t need another “discussion” about this. It needs action.

I don’t care how many centuries a practice has existed—if it harms a child, it ends now.

So, if you’re as disgusted as I am, spread the word. Share this article. Call it out.

Because the only way this stops is if the world finally wakes up and says, NO MORE.

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