Bris on Chol HaMoed or Hoshana Rabba

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 to be held on Chol HaMoed or Hoshana Rabba, he writes the following:

 1. For Chol HaMoed, the Mohel may cut his fingernails as per his bris milah needs (normally cutting fingernails is prohibited on Chol HaMoed).
2. For Hoshana Rabba, there is a custom to include the Pizmon of "Zchor Bris" after אנא אזן חין (which is the second piyut after the Hoshana circuits have been concluded)
3. The meal should be held earlier than later on account of the Yom Tov (holiday) that will begin in the evening.
 4. The bris should take place after Torah reading and before Hoshanos (unless the Hoshanos follow Hallel and take place before the Torah reading - AB)

Bris on Sukkos (Sukkot)

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 to be held on Sukkos, he writes the following:

 1. The bris need not take place in the Sukkah
2. When we say the blessing on the wine, we give the wine to the baby. Alternatively, the person reciting the bracha should drink a small amount, less than a cheekful
3. The celebratory meal should be held in the Sukkah. If the Sukkah is not big enough, it may be expanded on Chol HaMoed (normally we don't add to the Sukkah, but this is an allowance for the sake of a mitzvah... this rule should probably in the "Chol HaMoed" section, but Rabbi Weisberg included it in the bris on the holiday section - AB)

 The last points he raises are less about a Bris on Sukkos and more about the baby born during the holiday (whose Bris will be after the holiday)
1. Some have the custom to give the baby the name of the "Ushpizin" of the day which he was born Day 1 = Avraham
Day 2 = Yitzchak
Day 3 = Yaakov
Day 4 = Moshe
Day 5 = Aharon
Day 6 = Yosef
Day 7 = David

2. Some have the custom to name a baby born on the holiday "Yom Tov"

 Next up, a bris on Chol HaMoed or Hoshana Rabba

A Bris on Erev Sukkos

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 to be held on Erev Sukkos, he writes the following:
 1. Because of the need to prepare for the holiday, the celebratory meal (and of course the Bris) should be finished by midday.

 Next up, a bris on Sukkos

Bris on Yom Kippur

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 to be held on Yom Kippur, he writes the following:

1. The bris takes place after the Torah reading, before Ashrei.
2. Some say it takes place after Ashrei but before the Torah is returned to the Ark
3. If the bris must take place in a different room, the Torah is returned to the Ark, and then the bris takes place before the Chazzan for Mussaf begins his introductory prayer. (If this prayer is skipped for some reason, the bris takes place before Kaddish, though some pesukim should be said before Kaddish)
4. During the Selichos section of Shacharis, the pizmon "Zchor Bris" should be said
5. A husband and wife may be kvatter on Yom Kippur (this is included because of the prohibition on YK related to the spousal relationship - of course there is no concern at a public ceremony on the holiest day of the year)
6. Some say the blessings over the bris omit the blessing on the wine.
7. Some say we include the blessing on the wine, but give some of the wine to the baby
8. If the baby's mother is not fasting (which is uncommon, but is possible) and she is present at the bris, she may be given the wine to drink
9. Some leave over the wine from the bris and use it for Havdalah
10. The mohel may not put any liquid in his mouth, so if he does metzitzah without a barrier, he must wipe his mouth without using any liquid. Any liquid he puts on the baby must be applied with the hand only. (Using a tube for metzitzah would avoid this issue. There are those who are of the opinion that metzitzah should not be done at all on YK - AB.)
11. There is a custom to give the baby the name "Rachamim" (mercy) if his bris is on Yom Kippur.

Next up, a bris on Erev Sukkos

COVID and the Bris

It was not by design that I took a break from regularly posting here (I've written most of what I've wanted to write about Bris Milah, but new topics came up often enough to keep things interesting here - though I've been more active on Facebook). Life has taken its own turns for all of us during this pandemic, so blogging about Bris Milah took a back burner.

While certainly some people "family plan," no one "pandemic planned." So babies are being born, and brisses still need to take place. I suppose some people are holding off their son's bris until such time as they are more comfortable bringing a mohel in to their homes, but I have been as busy as I normally am, during the summer, so it's hard to say for sure.

Honestly, anyone who is pushing off their son's bris is certainly not calling me to tell me about it. 😇

The GOOD NEWS: (btw, there isn't any bad news)

* The major change I have made during this time period is to wear a mask. (Social distancing when possible - it is impossible to circumcise at a distance away)
* The sterility brought to every bris was already top notch
* Every baby I have serviced has done magnificently well during this time period
* Every set of parents I have encountered has been most grateful for the service they received
* Every set of parents appreciated the attention they were given

All of us know that communication with a mask on is far less than ideal. We prefer to see and read faces. We like to see smiles. We like our natural ways of communicating. 

But desperate times call for adjustments, even as the Jewish people continue to demonstrate their faith in God through circumcising their sons in a religious ceremony, under the oddest of conditions.

People are home. There is no one else present beyond the immediate family and the mohel, and all other relatives or friends who are participating are on an online forum such as Zoom.

These are the times we live in.

May we merit to see a return to normalcy soon.