Thoughout history cultures and societies that have sought to hurt Jews have attacked circumcision. Ancient [[Greeks]] enacted a ban when Jews started gaining influence in the area. [[King Antiochus IV]] of [[Syria]], the occupying power of [[Judea]] in 170 BC, outlawed circumcision on penalty of death. [[Roman emperor Hadrian]] issued a decree banning circumcision in the empire. [[Antoninus Pius]] permitted Jews to circumcise their own sons. However, he forbade the circumcision of non-Jews that were either foreign-slaves or non-Jewish members of the household, contrary to [[Genesis]] 17:12. He also made it illegal for a man to convert to [[Judaism]]. Antoninus Pius exempted the Egyptian priesthood from the otherwise universal ban on circumcision. | Thoughout history cultures and societies that have sought to hurt Jews have attacked circumcision. Ancient [[Greeks]] enacted a ban when Jews started gaining influence in the area. [[King Antiochus IV]] of [[Syria]], the occupying power of [[Judea]] in 170 BC, outlawed circumcision on penalty of death. [[Roman emperor Hadrian]] issued a decree banning circumcision in the empire. [[Antoninus Pius]] permitted Jews to circumcise their own sons. However, he forbade the circumcision of non-Jews that were either foreign-slaves or non-Jewish members of the household, contrary to [[Genesis]] 17:12. He also made it illegal for a man to convert to [[Judaism]]. Antoninus Pius exempted the Egyptian priesthood from the otherwise universal ban on circumcision. |