| This page is intended to answer some of the often-asked questions regarding Brit Milah. The word Bris means covenant; the word Milah, to cut. Ritual circumcision is the covenant G-d has established with the Jewish people through the commandment of circumcision. Bris Milah Judaism views body and soul as holy partners in serving G-d. Therefore, the bris is performed on the most physical part, for all of man is holy before his Creator. Bris Milah joins the forces of body and soul together in serving G-d. Why on the 8th day? The kabbalistic writings teach us that seven days represent the physical world of creation. Thus, when a child has lived for eight days, he has transcended the physical to the metaphysical. |
| The covenant joining body and soul, physical and spiritual, can now take place. A bris has no meaning when performed before the eighth day. QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE MOHEL: Every Brit Milah must be performed by a properly trained and certified Mohel (Ritual Circumciser). A Mohel is formally trained both in circumcision techniques as well as in Jewish law and tradition. While he certainly must be expert in the latest medically approved surgical and sterilization procedures, being a Mohel requires much more than surgical and medical skill. Jewish law sees the moment of Brit Milah as having a great spiritual impact upon the child. The Mohel, therefore, must also be a person of great piety and religiosity. He must be a G-d fearing practicing, Sabbath observant Jew, who performs the Brit Milah in accordance with the intentions as well as the methods of Jewish law. In this way the Mohel is a specialist in the spiritual aspects as well as the medical aspects of circumcision. |
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Information about briss, brit milah, briss
A Guide to Brit Milah/Bris Milah
Bris Milah - What you should know about circumcision
A Guide to Brit Milah/Bris Milah
Bris Milah - What you should know about circumcision
Jewish Bris
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| WHERE & WHEN? The brit milah of a healthy baby is always done on the 8th day, even Shabbat or Yom Kippur, and only during daylight hours! This 8th day is calculated to include the day of birth. If a baby is born, for example, on a Tuesday afternoon, under normally circumstances the Brit would be the following Tuesday, any time during the day. (There is a tradition to do the Brit as early in the day as possible.) A Brit Milah performed prior to this 8th day, or at night, does not comply with Jewish law, and is not considered a valid Brit. |
| A Brit of a baby delivered by caesarean section, although normally performed on the 8th day, may not be performed on the Sabbath or Jewish holiday. In this case, the Brit is delayed until the next weekday. Reasons to delay: A Brit Milah is never performed if it poses any danger to the infant. The doctor and/or mohel's advice to delay a Brit for health reasons should always be heeded. In case of jaundice (yellow pigmentation of the skin), the brit cannot be performed; it is delayed until the bilirubin in the blood drops to a safe level. The brit may then be performed without endangering the child. In cases of some illnesses, a delay of seven days following full recovery is required. It is forbidden to postpone the brit for any reason other than health of the child, or in order to obtain a proper Mohel (see above). It is the responsibility of the Mohel, in consultation with the doctor and the family, to determine if a delay is necessary according to Jewish law. The Brit may be performed in a Synagogue, social hall, or in a private home with complete safety. |
| THE BRIT MILAH CEREMONY: The baby is brought in to the room, carried by the kvatter and kvatterin, considered by many to be the godparents. Two chairs are prepared for the Brit. The first is for the Sandek, the individual who holds the baby on their knees during the actual circumcision. The lap of the Sandek is considered analogous to the altar of the Temple itself. It is considered a great honour to be the Sandek because there is a Cabbalistic tradition that links the soul of the Sandek with the child. In this way, the Sandek is considered the spiritual mentor of the child. In many instances, one of the grandfathers serves as the Sandek. The second chair is set aside for the spirit of Elijah the Prophet, the "Angel of the Covenant". According to Jewish tradition, Elijah comes to every circumcision to testify before the Almighty to the commitment of the Jewish people to this great mitzvah throughout the generations. During the ceremony, just prior to the Brit itself, the baby is placed on the chair of Elijah, and the Mohel recites a special prayer asking for the spirit of Elijah to stand over him as he performs the Brit. After the Mohel has performed the brit, a special blessing is recited upon a cup of wine, and the baby is given his Hebrew name. It is customary to serve refreshments or a meal after the brit, and this is considered a seudat mitzvah, part of the mitzvah. (Obviously all food served should be kosher.) Ideally, a minyan should be present for a Brit, although this is not a pre-requisite. Article and Information curtesy Rabbi Moshe Shulman, Certified Mohel Search our directory for a Mohel |