Request a Callback from Rabbi Gluck
Just submit your details and he will be in touch shortly.
The first person commanded to circumcise himself was Abraham, at the age of ninety-nine. G d told him (Genesis 17:7), “And I will establish My covenant between Me and between you and between your seed after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, to be to you for a G-d and to your seed after you.” Demonstrating his submission to G-d by marking the physical body with the sign of the covenant, Abraham revealed the intrinsic bond every Jew has with G-d.
For thousands of years, even under persecution, Jews have circumcised their sons using the services of a mohel, (ritual circumciser), who knows all the intricacies of performing the circumcision. By having your son ritually circumcised, you join their ranks in connecting your child with G-d in an unbreakable covenant.
The bris is performed anytime between sunrise and sunset on the eighth day from when the child was born.
If health complications delay the bris, it is performed immediately after the stable health of the child is confirmed.
Traditionally, it is preferable to perform the bris at the synagogue, following morning prayers
The tradition is to designate a chair for Elijah, the “Angel of the Covenant,” at every bris. although any chair can be used, many synagogues have a designated ornamental chair for this purpose.
One of the attendees is given the honor of placing the baby on the chair of Elijah as the mohel, chants, “This is the seat of Elijah…” He also asks that Elijah stand to his right and protect him, so that the procedure and recovery should run smoothly.
One of the participants at the bris is honored with lifting the infant from the chair of Elijah and handing him to the father. The father, in turn, places the baby on the lap of the sandek, his representative, who will hold the baby during the circumcision.
After the sandek sits down, his hands are sanitized with alcohol. He is shown by the mohel how to sit, and is instructed to refrain from any movement during the bris.
The father appoints the mohel as his messenger to perform the bris The knife is extremely sharp, and double-edged, in order to cause the least pain possible.
The mohel recites the blessing, “Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning circumcision.”
Then he begins the bris.
The father recites the blessing, “Blessed are You, L rd our G d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to enter him into the Covenant of Avraham Avinu.”
Those present respond, “Just as he has entered into the Covenant, so may he enter into Torah, into marriage, and into good deeds.”
There is a second sandek, called the “standing sandek,” who holds the infant as the mohel recites the blessings and names the child. The blessings are recited over a cup of wine.
The community attends a festive meal in honor of the bris milah. The meal is held in order to extend the joyous occasion.
It is traditional that all who participate in the festive meal should wash their hands and eat bread. The meal may consist of meat, fish, or dairy, and wine should always be served.
At the festive meal, it is customary to give charity and sing spiritual melodies. The father of the infant gives a short talk about the significance of the bris.
At the end of the Grace After Meals is recited, including six blessings specifically for the bris, bestowing good health and good wishes upon baby, parents, sandek and mohel.
The circumcision of a healthy baby is undertaken on the eighth day of life (counting the day of birth). This is so even if the eighth day falls on Shabbos, Yom Kippur or any other Jewish festival. However, in the case of a baby born by Caesarean section, the Bris is not performed on Shabbos or on a festival, but on the day following. Bris Milah may not be performed before the eighth day or at night. In the event that a baby is not in perfect health, even if not seriously ill, the Bris is delayed until the baby is considered as recovered. A common example of this situation is newborn jaundice. However, in the case of serious illness, a delay of one week following full recovery is required.
Traditionally, the parents engage a mohel to perform the Bris. A mohel is a person who is trained in the medical and surgical techniques of circumcision. In addition to being an expert in his field, the mohel is also knowledgeable in the religious laws pertaining to Bris Milah. A doctor’s medical circumcision does not fulfill the religious requirements of a Bris Milah and is not considered valid according to Jewish law. The Bris must be performed by a Jewish person who understands, upholds and practices the tenets of the Jewish religion and is trained to function as a mohel. It is important to choose a Mohel with whom you feel comfortable, someone who will be accommodating to the specific needs of the family. Another reason to use a mohel is to guarantee that the technique used to perform the Bris is acceptable in Jewish law and not the other procedures used in hospitals.
: A Bris does not have to be done at a Synagogue. Families have the Bris performed wherever it is most comfortable for them either at their home or commonly done at a synagogue.
The Bris ceremony is a very special occasion and is accompanied by rejoicing. There are several honors to be conferred during the ceremony, usually bestowed upon the relatives and close friends of the baby’s family. The number of honors can always be minimized or maximized in order to include every relative or friend that needs to be included.: A married couple known as the ‘kvater and kvaterin’ enters with the baby and he is placed on a chair designated as the Chair of Elijah. The baby is then placed upon the lap of the Sandek (often a grandfather) who holds the baby during the circumcision procedure. After the appropriate blessing is recited, the circumcision is performed by the mohel. Immediately following the Bris, another blessing is said over a cup of wine, and the baby receives his official Hebrew name, which he will proudly carry throughout his life. The newborn child is often named after departed relatives, a symbolic source of continued life for those no longer with us. The ceremony ends with the resounding wish of Mazel Tov! followed by the serving of refreshments or a light meal. The entire ceremony lasts approximately 25minutes.
More often than not, the baby is named for a departed relative, in which case the simplest way to go is to determine what the Hebrew name of the relative was. If the name is not known, parents can choose any Hebrew name, Biblical or contemporary. Biblical names are easy since virtually all have a Hebrew source (i.e. Jacob-Yaakov, Samuel – Shmuel) but the English and Hebrew name need not correspond. What about naming our son after a woman? Some female names have a direct male counterpart (i.e. Chaya – Chaim, Tzivya – Tzvi, Malka – Melech. It is also quite common for parents to choose a Hebrew name which could reflect meaning of the English name.
Unless you have a question or concern, you do not need to contact the mohel until a few days after the child is born. Any calls received Friday night or Saturday, will be returned Saturday night approximately one our after sundown. The mohel will schedule the bris and a convenient time to come meet with the parents either in the hospital or at home to discuss and plan the ceremony.
A The day of birth is counted as the first day. Jewish days begin and end at sunset. For example, a baby born on a Sunday will have his Bris the following Sunday. A baby born on Sunday night after sunset will have his Bris the following Monday. A Bris performed at night or before the eighth day is not valid.
It is nice to have a minyan (10 male adults) at the Bris, but it is not required.
No. The term Godparents alludes to legal guardians and it is not necessary to have this determined prior to the bris. Although the terms Kvater and Kvaterin (the individuals who carry the baby into the bris room) are often translated as Godfather and Godmother, there is no concept of Godparents in Judaism and those given this honor have no legal responsibility.
If you are having twin boys, the older would go first followed by his baby brother.
Just submit your details and he will be in touch shortly.
