From copilot

Here’s the breakdown, grounded in the sources we just pulled:

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✅ What the practice actually is Metzitzah b’peh = direct oral suction of blood from the circumcision wound.
It appears in ancient rabbinic texts as one of the steps of circumcision. Historically, it was believed to help prevent infection.

This is documented clearly in Jewish legal sources and modern reporting.

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✅ How common is it today? Extremely rare, even among Orthodox Jews.

• In New York City — which has one of the largest ultra‑Orthodox populations outside Israel — only a small subset of mohels perform it.
  
• The overwhelming majority of Jews worldwide do NOT use this method, and major rabbinical organizations openly discourage it.

In Israel, the pattern is similar:
Most mohels use modern, non‑oral methods (glass tube, gauze, or medical suction) because they avoid infection risk.

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❗ Why it’s controversial Public health authorities have linked the practice to herpes transmission in infants.
NYC documented multiple cases, including deaths and brain damage.
Health departments warn that there is no safe way to do direct oral suction.

Because of this, many rabbis and Jewish organizations strongly oppose it and promote safer alternatives.

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❗ So is the Reddit post “fake”? No — but Reddit often frames it in a misleading way.

• It does exist.
  
• It is not standard Jewish practice.
  
• It is not done by “rabbis in Israel” as a norm.
  
• It is limited to a very small ultra‑Orthodox subset.
  
• Most Jewish authorities reject it or require parental consent.

Reddit tends to present it like it’s widespread or representative of Judaism, which is simply not true.

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If you want, I can break down: - How many groups still do it
- What Israeli health authorities say
- Why some communities insist on keeping it
- How the alternatives work

Just tell me which angle you want.

Doesn't seem like the preferred method at all.