Brit (or bris) Milah, which means Circumcision of the Covenant, is the ceremony
required of all Jewish baby boys on the eighth day of life. Brit Milah is a commandment of
the Torah and binds each participant to a covenantal relation with God, first established by
Abraham.
When counting the eighth day, remember that the day of birth counts as Day One. So, a
boy born on a Tuesday has a brit milah on the following Tuesday. If the child is born after
sundown, then the brit milah is moved to Wednesday because a Jewish day begins at night,
and we don't want to make the mistake of doing brit milah on the seventh day. If we're in
doubt about the count, better to err on the side of doing the brit milah on the ninth day,
and never on the seventh day.
Shabbat and holidays present an interesting challenge. So important is the mitzvah of brit
milah that one is required to perform the ceremony even on Shabbat or a holiday (even
Yom Kippur!), allowing for the least possible violation of the holy day. The exceptions to
holding a Shabbat or Yom Tov brit milah are in the cases of births at twilight or births by
C-section. In these situations the brit milah is held on the ninth day. The brit milah would
also be delayed in the case of medical need.
The Torah commands each father to circumcise his son, but it is our practice to have the
father designate a mohel to perform the ritual on his behalf. The mohel is trained and
certified in this function. The list of mohalim in our community includes our own Cantor
Earl Berris.
The brit milah is often held in a private home. It is traditional to schedule the ceremony
early in the day, but it is acceptable anytime on the eighth day prior to sundown. The
mohel will provide the family with specific instructions. Among the traditional items at a
brit milah are kosher wine and a kiddush cup, a pillow, a chair designated for Elijah the
Prophet (the same Elijah who visits our seder table also visits each brit milah), and a
challah with which to begin a festive meal following the ceremony.
The ceremony consists of two parts. First the mohel performs the circumcision, then the
boy is given his Hebrew name. The naming can be performed by the mohel, other clergy, a
member of the family or a friend. There are a few important phrases to remember when
attending a brit milah. When the baby enters the room, say barukh haba, which means
welcome (literally, may the new arrival be blessed). After the father recites his
blessing, respond: k'shem she'nikhnas labrit ken yikanes l'Torah ul'chupah ul'ma'asim
tovim -- just as he has entered the Covenant, may he enter Torah, marriage and good
deeds. When the ceremony has concluded, join in wishing the boy and his family: Mazel
Tov!