Is this what I think it is?

And if it is, why the Hell is this allowed? Even if one argues that government has an obligation to accommodate religious practices from generally applicable laws, there is always a balancing test and certain practices -- murder, robbery, tax-evasion, etc., -- would never pass the test. I don't see how this would either:

The backdrop of this story is a Rabbi/mohel is suspected on passing the Herpes virus to infants through the circumcision ritual. It's not circumcision, but the manner in which it is done in some circles (and in this instance) that is quite disturbing (and the cause of the transmission).

Under Jewish law, a mohel -- someone who performs circumcisions -- draws blood from the circumcision wound. Most mohels do it by hand with a suction device, but Fischer uses a practice rare outside strict Orthodox groups where he uses his mouth to draw blood after cutting the foreskin.