| What is Brit Millah? |
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| Written by Reform Beit Din | |
| Tuesday, 25 June 2002 | |
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Circumcision and your baby.
Brit Milah is the Jewish religious ceremony of circumcision. The Hebrew term means “covenant of circumcision”, for circumcision is the symbol of the covenant made between God and Abraham in the Bible. It is a very ancient symbol of the special relationship between God and the Jewish people. As such, the ceremony makes one aware of the history of the Jewish people. It can also inspire those who participate in the service to strive to fulfil the command given by God to Abraham when the patriarch was circumcised: “Walk before Me and strive to be perfect”. For many Jews the rite of circumcision fulfils a mitzvah (religious commandment) ordained in the Bible. Others see it as an ancient tradition uniting the House of Israel and serving to remind the Jewish people of their relationship with God and the ethical duties and obligations incumbent upon them. WHO MAY BE CIRCUMCISED? Circumcision does not confer Jewish status. A child is Jewish at birth if both parents are Jewish. In Orthodox and Reform congregations he is deemed to be Jewish if his mother alone is Jewish. In Liberal congregations, the child has a presumptive Jewish status if either the mother or the father is Jewish and if they both give an undertaking to the rabbi or their congregation that the child will be raised and educated as a Jew. If there is any question about Jewish status, your local rabbi should be consulted. All men and women who have undergone conversion to Judaism under any reputable authority are considered by the Reform and Liberal Movements fully Jewish. Sons who are not Jewish according to the above definitions can also be circumcised. Indeed, this may be helpful since it removes what could later be an impediment to becoming Jewish. However, this will not take the form of a religious ceremony. Moreover, it is of the utmost importance that both parents give serious consideration as to why they wish to bring up their son religiously and recognise the reality of his present status. It is equally important that both parents are sure that they wish their child to be circumcised. The key to the occasion is that it should be a positive introduction to the possibility of future Jewish life both for the baby and for the parents. The mohel (the person who performs the circumcision) will be delighted to put you in touch with your local Progressive (Reform or Liberal) rabbi and community if you are not already a member. WHO ARE OUR MOHALIM? All Progressive mohalim (plural of mohel) are fully qualified doctors who have also received special training before being approved by the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain (RSGB) and the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues (ULPS). It should be stressed, however, that the RSGB and ULPS cannot be responsible for individual britot milah. WHERE WILL BRIT MILAH TAKE PLACE? The circumcision will usually take place at the parents' home but it can just as well be performed in another home or in hospital. If the family lives at a considerable distance from the mohel, then it is sometimes easiest if the baby is brought to the mohel's consulting rooms. Most mohalim will be able to make suitable arrangements for this and for a little family celebration afterwards in the surgery or medical centre, if so desired by the parents. WHEN SHOULD BRIT MILAH BE PERFORMED? The eighth day is the one ordained for circumcision in the Torah, counting the day of birth as day one. So, a baby born on a Tuesday should, if possible, be circumcised on the following Tuesday -never before. If the baby is born after sunset, then the following day counts as day one. So, a baby born after dark on a Tuesday should be circumcised on the Wednesday of the following week. Circumcisions may and should take place on the Sabbath and on Festivals, if that is the appropriate day of the week. It is customary for the circumcision to be performed earlier rather than later in the day and there are good medical reasons to support this. Circumcision should be postponed if there is any doubt about the health of the baby. Judaism teaches that life and health come first. If there is any question as to whether the baby is fit for circumcision, the mohel will advise you, if necessary after consultation with your own doctor(s). If the mother is ill, since that could affect the baby's health, it may be necessary to postpone circumcision for a while; again the mohel will be able to advise you. THE CEREMONY As few or as many people may be present as you wish. Circumcision is usually performed in the dining or living room where the guests assemble. There is no reason why women should not be present. You will need two firm dining chairs, a table about the size of a card table, and the mohel will need to have the use of the bathroom or kitchen. Prepare a bottle of sweet wine and a goblet or glass, a big pillow and a towel to put over it, and a spare disposable nappy. All mohalim have their own preferences, so do ask what will be required. The person who hold the baby is called the sandek. He or she needs to be invited in advance to perform this honour. It is also traditional to invite two people to be kvater (godfather) and kvaterin (godmother). The kvaterin receives the baby from his mother, brings him into the room where he is to be circumcised and hands him to the kvater. If you wish, your mohel will be able to help you decide whom to ask. The mohel will explain the service and guide you through it. The actual circumcision takes a very short time. It is quickly over for the baby and, when he has had a few drops of wine, he soon settles down and goes to sleep. The brit milah is followed by a ceremony naming the child and invoking God's blessing upon him, expressing the hope that “as he entered the covenant of Abraham, so may he enter into the study of Torah, the blessing of marriage and the practice of good deeds”. If you are not sure what Hebrew names to give the baby, you should consult your rabbi or the mohel before the service. After the ceremony, the mother takes the baby away to feed and the mohel stays in the house until all your questions are answered, everything has been explained and everyone is sure that the baby is alright. The mohel will be in touch with you by telephone later in the day to give any further instructions for after-care. The mohel may also wish to make arrangements to see the baby again either at his own consulting rooms or at your house. This is a matter of individual arrangement. COSTS Costs vary and will depend on the mohel, the distance travelled, the day of the week and whether the mohel has to engage another doctor to cover regular medical work. Some mohalim prefer a donation to be given to a suitable charity. It is not possible to give firm costs here but the mohel will quickly clarify the situation for you. In cases of genuine financial hardship, all mohalim are prepared to officiate for as little as nothing. Two final words - Mazal Tov! A list of members of the Association of Reform and Liberal Mohalim can be obtained from the Association’s office at the Sternberg Centre for Judaism, 80 East End Road, London N3 2SY (tel: 020 8349 2568; fax: 020 8349 5699) or from your own synagogue. First printed in 1988 reprinted March 1995, June 2001 transferered to the Web on June 2002 Trackback(0)
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DOES THIS HAVE ANY DISCRIPTION OF THE GIFTS YOU GET
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