Avodah Zara 27: Gentiles & Circumcision, Haircutting, Healing

The rabbis continue to question the lines between Jewish and Gentile community at the most natural sites of intermingling.  Today they discuss who is permitted to circumcise a Jew, who is permitted to cut a Jew's hair, and who is permitted to heal a Jew who is dying.

The wording of the mitzvah of creating a covenant with G-d through circumcision is somewhat ambivalent.  Do the words mean that only one who is circumcised himself is permitted to circumsize an infant?  What about one who could not be circumcised because his two older brothers died after circumcision?  What about a woman, who cannot be circumcised?  What about a Samaritan or a Gavnuni, hill person,* who is circumcised but not in honour of G-d's covenant?

The rabbis debate up and down.  In the end, they are willing to use the skills of a woman or others who were not traditionally circumcised but only if no-one else is available.  Notably, two arguments are present regarding women as mohelot.  First, women are all circumcised already.  In fact, all Jews are born circumcised and thus it is permitted for any Jew to circumcise an infant.  Second, women may have circumcised men in the Torah: Zipporah raised the flint to circumsize her and Moses's son when Moses was not present to do his duty.  The rabbis argue that the words might translate as "Zipporah called another to raise the flint" or even that Moses finished the circumcision himself.  They are reluctant to allow women to do exactly what women are said to have done.

The Gemara considers healing, as well.  A new Mishna teaches that one may be treated by a gentile provided that it is paid for and not a personal favour.  One may not have his hair cut in private, either.  

Why can't a Jew have his** hair cut by a Gentile when alone?  Not because of xenophobia and not because of a sense of superiority.  Jews are afraid of Gentiles.  Gentiles could easily kill Jews while cutting their hair.  This point is helpful when we consider the exclusivity of Judaism and the existence of antisemitism over thousands of years.  Jews are thought of negatively; Jews are hurt by Gentiles.  Do we as Jews encourage negative stereotypes because of our ever-present fear of persecution?

When are Jews permitted to be healed by Gentiles?  We are told the story of a Jew who dies because a rabbi does not wish for people to believe that a Gentile, in particular, Jesus, has healing powers beyond those of G-d.  But if a Jew's life is in danger, should we not turn to anyone who has a potential remedy?  The rabbis distinguish between heretics and other Gentiles who heal.  Heresy is said to be enticing, and the rabbis also fear that people might follow the heretic over their Jewish teachings.


*Possibly descendants of Keturah, Avraham's wife after Sarah's death, known as nomadic mountain dwellers who are not in the covenant but circumsize themselves anyway.    Or possibly nomadic people descended of those dwelling near the Golan who practiced circumcision.

** it is unclear whether or not women's hair was cut or styled by other people.