The first ritual circumcision (Brit Mila) in over 30 years took place in Alexandria, Egypt, in late August, it was announced here by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The circumcision of Yaakov Balassiano, the son of Victor Balassiano, was held in the Great Synagogue Eliahu Hanabi in the presence of 100 guests, including members of the community and tourists from Israel.
The JDC reported that it provided for the transport and participation of Rabbi Chaim Malowicki and mohel Alexander Zizubich who came to Alexandria to officiate at the ceremony. The Alexandria Jewish community does not have a resident rabbi or mohel.
The elder Balassiano is 42 years old and prior to the birth of his son was the youngest member of the Alexandria Jewish community. There are approximately 150 Jews in that city out of a total of 350 Jews remaining in Egypt. There were an estimated 100,000 Jews in Egypt before 1948.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
