Bris on Chanukah or Purim

This is one of a series of blog posts on things that might be done differently at a bris taking place on a special day on the Jewish calendar. See all of the links at this dedicated page

The book "Otzar HaBris" (Yossele Weisberg) has a section of halakhot surrounding what is done differently on noted days of the Jewish calendar.

With respect to a bris on Chanukah or Purim, he shares the following insights:

Chanukah:
1. There is a custom for a baby born on or circumcised during Chanukah to be named for the Nasi (prince) of that day's Torah reading. 
(1st day - Nachshon
2nd day - Netanel
3rd day - Eliav
4th day - Elitzur
5th day - Shlumiel 
6th day - Elyasaf
7th day - Elishama
8th day - Gamliel, (Avidan, Achiezer, Pagiel, Achira)
2. Some have the custom to give the name Matityahu (or Matisyahu).
[I suppose any of the Maccabees could be had in mind in the naming process)

Purim
1. The bris takes place before the Megillah is read (or read the Megillah early)
2. There is a debate as to which comes first if you can only do one at this time - Milah, or Megillah
3. A regular Bris celebratory meal can be held, and it is not considered as if we are mixing joy (of the Bris) with joy (of Purim)
4. Some have the custom to give the baby the name Mordechai

Naming the Baby When His Bris is To Be Delayed a LONG Time

See more on this topic regarding specifically choosing to name the baby before the bris - during the first week of the baby's life. This article is about if the baby's bris has to be delayed for an extended period of time, either because of a medical condition or an anatomical condition which translates to a need for surgery, which will take place when the baby is at least 6 months or older, when a surgeon will be performing a reconstructive surgery on a condition developed in utero which should not be touched by a mohel.

In his book "Otzar HaBris" Yossele Weisberg writes the following (6:2:3):

* When the bris will not take place on time for whatever reason, there are those who say the baby should be named when his father is called to the Torah (e.g. for an aliyah), and it is good for this to take place after the baby's eighth day. 

High Fiving the Sandak

I have never done this before. But today, before the baby was on the sandak's lap, I let out a whoop and gave the sandak a high-five.

Here's the background.

Before the baby gets put on the sandak's lap, and after the baby is on his lap, I speak with him briefly, giving him instructions for how he is to hold the baby, etc.

When his legs are in the position they will remain in for the circumcision (remember, baby will be on a pillow which will be resting on sandak's lap), often with at least one pillow on his lap, I typically ask the sandak, "Are you comfortable?"

It's both a serious question, and the set up for an old Henny Youngman punchline you'll find at the end below the line.

In the Merit of Milah...

דעת זקנים מבעלי התוספות דברים פרק ל

מי "יעלה "לנו "השמימה. הרי מילה בראשי תיבות רמז שבזכות מילה עלה משה לשמי' לקבל התורה"

Daat Zekenim on the recent Torah portion

Who (Mi) Will Go Up (iYaleh) For Us (Lanu) To The Heavens (HaShamayma)

Milah is the acronym of those words, to hint to us that in the merit of circumcision, Moshe went up the mountain to receive the Torah!

When we look at the last letters of those words, we find the Tetragrammaton - God's special name - indicating Who was waiting for Moshe to give him the Torah.

Bris During the Ten Days of Repentance

This is one of a series of blog posts on things that might be done differently at a bris taking place on a special day on the Jewish calendar. See all of the links at this dedicated page

The book "Otzar HaBris" (Yossele Weisberg) has a section of halakhot surrounding what is done differently on noted days of the Jewish calendar.

With respect to a bris during the Aseres Y'mei Teshuvah, he shares the following insights:

1. If the father of the baby, the sandak for the bris, or the mohel are present at a Shacharis, tachanun will be skipped. However, "Avinu Malkeinu" - an additional prayer recited between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, will be recited. 

2. Those who have the custom to fast during the 10 days may eat at the "seudat mitzvah" of the bris, and they do not need to do/say hatarat neder for their custom to fast. The exception would be if the person specifically made a vow at Mincha the previous day - not knowing he would be at a bris - for that vow, hatarat neder would be necessary.


Next up will be a bris on Yom Kippur

Bris on Tzom Gedaliah

This is one of a series of blog posts on things that might be done differently at a bris taking place on a special day on the Jewish calendar. See all of the links at this dedicated page

The book "Otzar HaBris" (Yossele Weisberg) has a section of halakhot surrounding what is done differently on noted days of the Jewish calendar.

With respect to a bris on Tzom Gedaliah, he shares the following insights:

1. The prayers are the same for the fast day - saying Selichos and Viduy.

2. However, Tachanun is not recited during Shacharis (it is recited as part of Selichos)

3. We say Kel Erekh Apayim and Lamnatzeach

4. When we say the blessing on the wine, we give some of it to the baby to drink.

5. If the fast day is pushed off to Sunday (because the 3rd of Tishrei fell on Shabbos), then the mohel, sandak or baby's father may drink, as none of them (the "baalet bris") are required to fast

6. Some have the custom to give the baby the name "Gedaliah," while others felt this should not be done.

Next up, a bris during the Ten Days of Repentance

Bris on Rosh Hashana

This is one of a series of blog posts on things that might be done differently at a bris taking place on a special day on the Jewish calendar. See all of the links at this dedicated page

The book "Otzar HaBris" (Yossele Weisberg) has a section of halakhot surrounding what is done differently on noted days of the Jewish calendar.

With respect to a bris on  Rosh Hashana, he shares the following insights:

1. If the bris will be taking place in the synagogue, the Rosh Hashana bris should ideally take place after Torah reading, before Shofar blowing. It should certainly not take place at the end of Tefillah.
2. If the bris will be in a home, it could take place after prayer services are over. If the home is close to the synagogue, and there's a way for the bris to take place at the proper time (see #1) without causing a delay in the services, then it should be done. (If there is an appeal or the rabbi's sermon, and the mohel can work quickly to not miss shofar blowing, then I suppose this is possible - but there shouldn't be a mass exodus - only those needed for the ceremony)
3. If it is the Sabbath, since there will not be Shofar blowing, the bris will take place after the Torah is returned to the Ark, before the Chazzan for Mussaf begins his prayer before Mussaf. (Some say it should take place at the same time as it would during a weekday Rosh Hashana day, after Torah reading and before Ashrei)
4. If the bris will cause the mohel to miss Shofar blowing, some say it is OK for him to miss out on Shofar blowing for the sake of the mitzvah of bris. Others say this only applies to a father who is also a trained mohel. Otherwise, the mohel should not be missing out on hearing the Shofar.
5. There is a custom to give the name Yitzchak to a child who is either circumcised on Rosh Hashana or who is born on Rosh Hashana.
6. Some say to not make a celebratory Bris meal on Rosh Hashana. (In the footnote he mentions a concern that such a celebration might take away from the more serious nature of the day)
7. Those who fast on Rosh Hashana (not a common practice) - both opinions exist regarding whether to eat. You may not eat, while some are lenient saying you may eat (welcome to Judaism!)
8. A child who is born at dusk a week before either the first or second day of Rosh Hashana will eb circumcised the day after Rosh Hashana (on Tzom Gedaliah). Of course if that day is Shabbos, the bris will be pushed off (as will be Tzom Gedaliah) to Sunday.


Next up, a bris on Tzom Gedaliah

Bris on Erev Rosh Hashana

This is one of a series of blog posts on things that might be done differently at a bris taking place on a special day on the Jewish calendar. See all of the links at this dedicated page

The book "Otzar HaBris" (Yossele Weisberg) has a section of halakhot surrounding what is done differently on noted days of the Jewish calendar.

With respect to a bris on the day before Rosh Hashana, he shares the following insight - which is essentially the same as the first rule he shared regarding a Rosh Chodesh bris. 

Those who have the custom to fast on Erev Rosh Hashana may participate in the Bris celebratory meal.

Next up, a bris on Rosh Hashana.

Bris on Rosh Chodesh

This is one of a series of blog posts on things that might be done differently at a bris taking place on a special day on the Jewish calendar. See all of the links at this dedicated page

The book "Otzar HaBris" (Yossele Weisberg) has a section of halakhot surrounding what is done differently on noted days of the Jewish calendar.

With respect to Rosh Chodesh, he shares two points:

1. Someone who fasts on Erev Rosh Chodesh (the day before Rosh Chodesh, sometimes called Yom Kippur Katan) may eat at a Bris meal, according to some opinions.

2. At the meal for a bris which takes place on Rosh Chodesh, an additional food item should be added to the menu, specifically in honor of Rosh Chodesh.

Next up, a bris on Erev Rosh Hashana.

Mother v Father : Wife v Husband

It does not happen often, but every now and then the parents of the baby have very different ideas as to what they want their baby's circumcision to look like. And no, I am not talking about the actual aesthetics of how things will turn out and look post-op.

I'm referring to the setting of the bris. Without getting into specifics of what men v women want (because there is honestly no set rule here), let's just give a few examples where different visions can reach very different conclusions.

One wants to make a big party and invite lots of people
One wants to keep things modest. Very modest.

One wants to bring special attention to the mitzvah at hand
One couldn't care less about the mitzvah

One believes circumcision is the right thing to do for religious reasons
One believes circumcision is an important medical procedure

Bris on Tisha B'Av

This is one of a series of blog posts on things that might be done differently at a bris taking place on a special day on the Jewish calendar. See all of the links at this dedicated page

In the event your baby's bris will be taking place on Tisha B'Av (timely, because that will be observed this coming Sunday), here are a few things to bear in mind.

1. The bris takes place after Kinot, because we can't mix "Simcha" (of the bris) with the sadness of the Kinot. As far as when exactly we do the bris there are three views

1. After Shacharit, but before Chatzot (midday)
2. After Chatzot
3. After Mincha

Ashkenazim typically follow the first view, while Sefardim typically follow the second view. 

Like every other day of the calendar, the main rule is that the bris take place while the sun is out. Those who would like to serve a break the fast meal as a "Seudat Mitzvah" might prefer to have the bris as close to sunset as possible. 

2. The father, mohel and sandak may wear Shabbos clothes in honor of the special day (typically, Tisha B'Av clothes are less fancy than Shabbos clothes). There are differences of opinion as to their allowance to wear leather shoes. However, once the bris is over, they should change back to regular Tisha B'Av garb.

3.The blessing is made over wine, but the wine is given either to children to drink, to the baby to drink, or to the baby's mother, in the event that she is not fasting.  She should be sure to hear the bracha, have in mind to fulfill the bracha for herself with the recitation at the bris, and she should not talk between hearing the bracha and drinking the wine. (This applies if the bris is on time, or taking place while the baby is under 30 days old. If the bris has been significantly delayed, she should also be fasting).

4. For those who bring besamim to a bris (a Sefardic and Middle Eastern tradition), there is a debate as to whether they should be brought to a Tisha B'Av bris, some feeling we avoid making a blessing on spices on Tisha B'Av, with others thinking, "Yes, but it's a brit!!"

5. While we don't cut fingernails on Tisha B'Av, a mohel may cut his fingernails if they are needed for pri'ah. 

6. There are different customs surrounding wearing a tallis at a bris. Those who wear a tallis do not wear it on Tisha B'Av in the morning. As such, there are different views as to whether the "no tallis in the morning" rule also applies to a bris taking place in the morning. 

7. While under typical circumstances we do not allow the eating of meat on the evening that follows Tisha B'Av, but since meat is allowed to be eaten during the Nine Days for a bris, meat can also be eaten at the end of Tisha B'Av, if it is for the meal that is the Seudas Mitzvah of the Tisha B'Av bris. 

8. When Tisha B'Av falls on Saturday and is observed on Sunday there is a debate as to whether the father, mohel and sandak may eat. If they may, it is only after Mincha. All eating on a Sunday Tisha B'Av must be preceded by havdalah. 

9. If the bris has been pushed off, and today is not the 8th day, the father, mohel and sandak must fast. 

10. There is a custom to give the baby whose bris is on Tisha B'Av either the name Menachem or Nechemiah (there is also a custom to give a girl born on Tisha B'Av the name Bat Zion.)

(Source, Otzar HaBris  Volume I, pages 293-297)

If the father is not present, who recites his blessing?

The father's role at the bris is significant, as he is one of the 3 baalei brit. The blessing he recites is noted as the third bullet-point in the link at the beginning of this paragraph.

While it is uncommon for the father to not be present at the bris, here are a few examples of how it could be that he is not present.

* He is away on business and his wife unexpectedly gave birth early
* He is sick and out of commission
* He has passed away (R"L)
* He is in prison
* He is not Jewish.

Reciting "Shehechiyanu" At a Bris

Much of the following is from Rabbi Pirutinsky's discussion of the subject in Sefer HaBris, starting page 290. He quotes all the Rishonim and Acharonim. I am making it simple through just giving the opinions. 

One of the more impactful blessings we have in our liturgy is the "Shehechiyanu"

ברוך אתה ה' א-לקינו מלך העולם שהחיינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה
Blessed are you Hashem, our God, King of the universe, Who has had us live, and survive, and brought us to this time.

We say this blessing on holidays and other special occasions, mostly when a special event has not happened for over 30 days. (There is an entire Siman in the Shulchan Arukh - Orach Chaim 225 - dedicated to this blessing!)

Do we say it at a bris?

Who Cries At A Bris? It Depends...

The baby’s mother told me today:

I’ve always cried at a Bris. Both because of the emotion of being part of the Jewish people, and for the mom who can’t console her baby during the Bris.

But TODAY I didn’t cry. Even though it was MY baby. Because all the information you sent me, all the things you gave me to read, helped me understand what is going on, and helped me know my baby is in the right hands.

(Now *I* am crying. 😅)

Why do I love being a mohel? Read THIS

Let me count the ways.

While I've answered this question in the past, I am now going to elaborate on reason #2

It is because of stories like what I heard at today's bris.

The parents of the baby are not American-born. Spanish? Russian? I got a mix of different cultures - all of which led me to give a different kind of speech than the one I usually give while explaining the ceremony... about Jewish strength and survival, and doing what we do because we are proud to be Jews... and about the strength God should give parents who are given the enormous task of raising a baby.

As I was about to leave - bris was great, baby resting peacefully - the baby's grandmother walks into the room where her daughter is holding the baby, and she essentially tells me that she's riding on top of the world.

I asked her why? This is her daughter's first child, but she seems even more elated than other parents of first-time parents.

So she tells me her story.

"Five years ago, my daughter had an autoimmune reaction. She was dead on a ventilator. DEAD."

Common Questions to uncommon situations

Some of the more common questions that come up have been addressed before. I'm providing some old links to help you navigate these issues.

What happens when the baby is jaundiced/yellow?
http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2011/12/jaundice-when-baby-is-yellow.html

What happens if the baby has a weird foreskin or no foreskin?
http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2015/06/when-there-is-no-bris.html

What kinds of problems should I anticipate after the bris?
http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2012/09/chubby-baby-syndrome.html
http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2018/01/the-scare-tactic-long-term-reminder.html (there are a few links here as well)

Do you have any really bad stories that you care to share?
http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2018/08/track-record.html
http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2018/01/table-of-contents-problems.html (see the bottom link "Vindicated" on this page)

How do I get over the nervousness I feel at the prospect of the bris?
Knowledge is power - http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/p/welcome.html