Hellenism captured the imagination and hearts not only of the Greeks but of the majority of Jews in ancient Judea. In fact, Jewish tradition relates that many tried to surgically “reverse” their circumcision – which they viewed as a mutilation of the body.
Unfortunately, however, two thousand years after the victory of the Maccabees over their Greek oppressors, Hellenism is making a comeback in the U.S. and the Western world. Today people once again are celebrating, almost worshiping, the body.
Another sign is that the right to practice our faith in accordance with our beliefs is coming under increasing attack by Hellenestic forces that view circumcision of a child as mutilation of a perfect body without its owner’s consent.