Circumcision as Improvement on Creation

A philosopher asked R. Hoshaiah. He said to him, “If circumcision is so beloved [a commandment to the Lord], why was it not given to Adam, the first [man]?” He said to him, “Why does this man [i.e., the philosopher] shave the corners of his head and leave the corners of his beard?” He said to him, “Because it grew on him unwittingly.” He said to him, “If so, then he should blind his eye, and cut off his hands, and break his legs, since they grew on him unwittingly.” He said to him, “To these words we have come!” He said to him, “I can’t let you leave empty-handed [i.e., without an answer]. Rather, everything that was created in the six days of creation requires an action. For example, mustard requires sweetening, and lupines require sweetening, and wheat needs to be ground. Even man [requires] amendment [i.e., circumcision].”

Translated by Sheila Keiter.