Hello- I hope this is okay to post here. My brother and sister in law are expecting a son in a few months, which is wonderful and exciting. And recently my partner asked me to attend their Brit Milah ceremony, which I had never heard of. I am not Jewish, have enjoyed being able to participate in all the holidays and ceremonies, but it’s the first male child born in the family since I met my partner and I just always thought circumcisions were done in the hospital right after birth.
I will be honest- the idea of attending makes me deeply uncomfortable. I’m not against circumcisions, I am circumcised, but I did not know it would be a ceremony where we would be present for it. Full context- I was sexually abused, and have a lot of triggers related to male genitalia. It’s not that I think the event is creepy, people who have describing putting a catheter in have made me almost pass out, it’s just something that’s very upsetting to me on a deeply visceral level.
I guess I’m asking- how involved does one have to be as a guest at a small bris? Can I leave the room during the circumcision? I really don’t know if I can be present without passing out or throwing up, and so I feel stuck as not attending is rude but throwing up would also feel rude haha. My in laws do not know I was sexually abused and I’d rather not tell them that as a reason. My partner knows I was abused but essentially is of the opinion I just need to tough it out and get through it.
submitted by /u/Icy_Significance4380
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Source: Reditt
