Is circumcision really necessary?

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Shalom cheverim,
I have always had a problem with circumcision, largely speaking I do not see the point! Many Jews were not circumcised in the past and I have read that some liberal congregationsare now offering Bris Shalom, an alternative to circumcision. How many Jews out there agree, or do we feel that bris (traditional) is still necessary? I think circumcision puts off many converts who would otherwise be "good" Jews, and thus we are weakening the "genetic pool of Israel".
Thoughts?
Shalom

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No, circumcision is NOT neccessary.
I would ask that you do not circumcise any child.
Perhaps you're not aware, but there is actually an increase in metaphoric cutting (eg. of bread) which is being used as a replacement to the actual cutting of the childs genitals in Judaism.

On a side note:
"a god who demands that his believers be mutilated and branded on their genitals the same as cattle, is a god of questionable ethics."

Here is some information on circumcision.

Circumcision is generally the forced removal (cutting off) of the foreskin from a child without the ability of the child to consent.
Here is a video of the operation. Watch it if you want to learn more. Please do watch it.
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=35...
It is not just a little snip here and there. Watch the above video of a circumcision in progress.

The foreskin is the most sensitive part of the penis and therefore very significant during sexual intercourse. Circumcision removes as much as 75% of sensation [ http://www.nocirc.org/touch-test/bju_668... ].
The foreskin reduces the force required by the penis to enter the vagina. It also increases the sexual enjoyment of the female partner. Here is a study to back this up: http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/ohar...
The foreskin keeps the glans soft and moist and protects it from trauma and injury. Without this protection, the glans becomes dry, calloused, and desensitized from exposure and chafing.
Specialized nerve endings in the foreskin enhance sexual pleasure.
The foreskin may have functions not yet recognized or understood.

Performing circumcision on a child can and does result in the deaths of children due to blood loss and/or failure of the immune system.
It can and does result in very significant scaring.
It can and does result in sexual problems later in life.

The idea that it provides better hygeine is flawed and is simply a matter of performing good genital hygeine. The study that you are less succeptible to aids if you are circumcised is flawed. Here is a discussion of the report and its methodology by "Doctors Opposing Circumcision": http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.o... . A condom is still required to prevent transmission of STI's.

Men may often feel a need to justify their own circumcision by the generation of claims of health benefits.[ http://www.cirp.org/library/psych/goldma... ]
"The medical literature is full of protective claims for various diseases, such as sexually transmitted disease , male and female cancers, and urinary tract infection. All such claims have been disproved."[ http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.o... ]

Studies about the rate of transmission of aids with respect to both male and female circumcision have been conflicting.
A collection of said studies can be found linked from here:
http://www.mgmbill.org/aids.htm...
Furthermore:
"The United States has one of the highest rates of male circumcision and also one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the developed world, suggesting that circumcision is having exactly the opposite effect. Conversely, Finland and Japan have some of the lowest rates of circumcision and also some of the lowest rates of HIV/AIDS."
Condoms have been proven to be an effective means of combatting AIDS.
Are you aware that Stallings study also shows that female circumcision also reduces HIV transmission? [ http://www.ias-2005.org/planner/abstract... ]
Female circumcision type II is the removal of the prepuce, part of the clitoris and the labia. Because of the function of the male foreskin, male circumcision is comparable to type II female circumcision. [ http://www.mgmbill.org/mgm101.pps... ]
We do not nor should we circumcise girls.
Do not do it for hygeine issues. It is a trivial task to ensure good genital hygeine.
The vast majority of the world(83%) is not circumcised.
There is no good reason to perform male genital mutilation.

See these sites specifically:
http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.o...
http://www.mgmbill.org/
http://www.nocirc.org/
http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/...
http://www.noharmm.org/

Here is a tracking of circumcision news articles which is kept very up to date:
http://www.cirp.org/news/

Have a look at this website:
http://www.cnn.com/health/9712/23/circum...

Have a look at these videos:
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=13...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=... Source(s): Particularly this one:
http://www.circumstitions.com/fgmvsmgm.h...
But also:
http://www.historyofcircumcision.net/ind...
http://www.cirp.org/news/sydneymorninghe...
http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/intact/fgm....
http://www.boystoo.com/fgm&mgm.htm...
http://www.fathermag.com/health/circ/net...
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circumcision is more than a traditional belief as it has health benefits also as it eliminates 'smegma'. a substance present in the male sexual organ that may cause damage to women's health and also their own.
not neccesary,women just like 20% off!
When I had my son, I talked to my doctor about if it was necessary--- It's not.

There are a lot of articles and debates about it in parenting magazines, actually....

I honestly think it's up to the parent, no matter what religion.
Women who have sexual partners who are circumcised have been proven to have a reduced risk of cervical cancer. So it's cleaner (for the man) and healthier for the woman.
Your foreskin protects your helmet. It is not necessary unless the foreskin is too tight. Good hygiene is all you need to keep your knob healthy and clean, removing the foreskin is like removing your teeth so you don't need any fillings.