We decided against circumcision and when I saw my newborn’s perfect little body I had no wish to change what nature created. But does this mean he can never have a bar mitzvah or marry in a synagogue?Not necessarily, according to Rabbi Mark Winer of the West London Synagogue of British Jews. “Strictly speaking, any boy born of a Jewish mother is Jewish. I wouldn’t insist on a boy being ritually circumcised in order to have a bar mitzvah or marry in a synagogue, although I would prefer it. But I do think a boy who grows up uncircumcised will have problems identifying as a Jew,” he says.Rabbi Winer believes that ritual circumcision is a wonderful tradition that brings people together. Nevertheless, he accepts and even advocates the use of local anaesthetic to reduce pain, and he will officiate at hospital circumcisions if he is asked to.Mark Winer’s views are progressive, and to an Orthodox rabbi they would be unacceptable. If you’re completely sure that circumcision is right for your son, then go for it.

But let the decision be yours, your partner’s, and no one else’s. If you’re unsure, why not leave him with a foreskin – and the right to decide for himself?. The American band The Strokes were honoured three times at the NME pop music awards yesterday, eclipsing Kylie Minogue who came away with only two prizes. Their debut album, Is This It, scooped the album of the year award, overcoming competition from The Charlatans, Muse, Radiohead and Slipknot.Fresh from her triumph at The Brits, Minogue had to make do with the best international album and artist titles.Radiohead, who won best music video award for “Pyramid Song”, and Ash, whose “Burn Baby Burn” was named single of the year, were among those at a celebratory party at Planit Arches in London’s East End last night.Mis-teeq collected the R&B/soul award on behalf of the late Aaliyah, whose reputation in Britain has soared since she died in a plane crash last year.

They will present it to the singer’s family during their forthcoming American tour.U2, the winners last year of the God-like genius award, sent a special video, including a performance of The Ramones’s “Beat on the Brat”, to accept the best live act title.The band were unable to attend because they were on their way to the United States where they have been nominated for eight Grammys. They are due to perform at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles tomorrow. The God-like genius title this year was shared by two veterans of the music scene, neither of them musicians – the journalist Nick Kent and the photographer Pennie Smith.Kent used to work for the NME and interviewed everyone from David Bowie and Kurt Cobain to Sid Vicious and Brian Wilson. He gained notoriety in the 1970s for his expos?of the wild side of the industry.Smith is famous for a string of classic rock pictures including the live shot of The Clash’s Paul Simenon smashing his guitar which was recently voted the best rock photograph.Other honours went to Ian Brown, the former lead singer with The Stone Roses, who was named best solo artist, and Basement Jaxx, who beat Fatboy Slim for best dance act. Swindon’s the Lostprophets won best metal act honours and Missy Elliott was named best hip hop/rap act.Radio 1, which scooped four of the five nominations in the best radio show category, won for The Evening Session. In a sub-division of categories, the best Radio 1 evening session award went to indie rockers The Charlatans.In a nod at rival popular art forms, Baz Luhrmann’s musical Moulin Rouge was named best film and the BBC2 satire The Office beat American competition from The Sopranos and The Simpsons to be named best television show.The awards were voted for by NME readers..