TAM HYUN's twin sons Menashe Boruch and Efraim Simcha have the distinction of being Second Life's first babies to be circumcised in a traditional Bris Milah ceremony last week.
Rabbi RebMoshe Zapedzki conducted the rites (which are held eight days after the boys' births) and were well-attended by the Jewish community of SL.
"We all considered this to be the first bris milah in SL," said Tam Hyun, "and as much a significant part of Jewish life as synagogues, services and holidays observances."
"It is a commandment in the Torah as a welcoming of a boy into the "tribe" of Jewish souls and a major event in all observant parent's life."
Tam explained that her son's names are very traditional Jewish names - Menashe and Efraim are the sons of Joseph in the Torah and this is part of the traditional blessing given to boys.
"Those attending were a mix of people familiar with the ceremony and those who had never seen a bris milah. Of course, the ceremony was just that - a ceremony, since it was designed to represent what is done in real life."
In the afterglow of the ceremony's celebration party, Tam reflected on her new role as a mother and said she is finding it "fantastic!"
"I've never had so much fun with the two guys. In SL, all it takes is a push of a button to satisfy their every need. But the real fun for me is just holding them and imagining that this is what real life could be."
(Photo is of Jieux Shepherd holding Efraim while Rabbi RebMoshe conducts the bris. Mother Tam (in white) is holding Menashe).
