It all started with my boyfriend’s penis.
As a female filmmaker, the topic of male circumcision is not something I ever thought I’d be interested in. I’d never even seen a foreskin IRL (Thanks to Summer Camp) But then I fell in love with a Goy and also grew quite fond of his foreskin. I began to chat up every male in my life both Jewish and gentile about their foreskin or lack thereof. Did they miss it? Do they like it? Do they have foreskin FOMO? It led me to wonder if I ever gave birth to a boy, what would I do about his foreskin? After all, it’s never too early to become a neurotic Jewish mother.
As a Jew who is really interested in being both 100% my authentic self and also a loyal member of the tribe I knew I had found my next film.
“Just the Tip” focuses on circumcision at the intersection of religion/identity/masculinity/body image and bodily consent. But don’t worry, it’s also funny as hell.
At a time when antisemitism is on the rise and Jewish identity seems to be in constant flux, how important is it to keep up this sacred tradition? Can you be a “good Jew” and also keep your foreskin? What are the disadvantages of remaining “intact”? How do you navigate this process with your partner, family, and community?
The film exposes this deeply controversial, yet prized, ritual with humor, heart, and fearlessness. And it looks at the place this tradition has in both the singular and collective Jewish future.
Circumcision extends far beyond the Jewish community and is in the crosshairs of the cultural zeitgeist right now. As a comedian, I’m interested in any topic that is so sensitive and feels impossibly awkward to talk about. My favorite thing about being a Jewish artist is that curiosity is basically in our DNA. As a woman, I have enough distance from the topic to actually go there and ask those hard questions.
Making a film about foreskin has changed my life. I’ve been trying to get men to communicate with me for my whole life, but who knew the magic word was foreskin? Upon starting production, I quickly learned what a goldmine this topic was. Men have been dying to talk about circumcision -- the foreskin became a gateway for me to talk about my favorite things: men and feelings. There has been so much projected onto this tiny piece of flesh --- ritual, identity, masculinity. This film is truly just the tip of the iceberg!
My goal is for the film to serve as a catalyst for interfaith couples (and everybody!) to have honest conversations about a topic that’s been deemed taboo for too long. Rather than culminating in a definitive answer, the film takes pleasure in wrestling with these deep questions. What’s more Jewish than that?
Thanks so much for watching and exploring this journey with me.
Enjoy my dick pic!
Please let me know what you think in the comments <3
