What is a Brit Milah?

A brit milah is a religious Jewish male circumcision ceremony performed by a mohel, a’circumciser’, on the eighth day of a male infant’s life.

In Hebrew it is written מִילָה בְּרִית and pronounced brit miˈla.

The Ashkenazi pronunciation is brisˈmila.

The Yiddish pronunciation is bris.

A brit milah is the “covenant of circumcision”. Circumcision was the first commandment given by G-d to Abraham, the first Jew, and is central to Judaism.

Source:Wikipedia

The tradition of Judaism, thousands of years old, is to circumcise male children on the eighth day after birth. This act of ritual circumcision (brit milah) is based on the narrative in the Bible (Bereishit/Genesis chapter 17) in which God tells Abraham that this act of circumcision is to be the immutable sign of His covenant between Abraham and his descendants for all time. Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, was circumcised on the eighth day of his life and this became Jewish practice throughout the ages (Vayikrah/Leviticus 12:3).

Naturally, if the infant is deemed physically unable to safely withstand the procedure on the eighth day of his life, the circumcision is postponed until such time that it can be safely performed. If the boy is healthy, the circumcision is performed on the eighth day, even if that eighth day falls on the Sabbath or one of the Jewish holidays, days when such “work” is ordinarily forbidden. This is provided the baby was born through natural delivery. In the case of a Caesarean section the brit will be postponed to Sunday or the day after the festival.

Jews have always sacrificed much, even their lives, to perpetuate and perform this defining act of Jewishness. The covenant of Abraham gives this ceremony its name – brit, the Hebrew word for a covenant. Milah means to cut, remove or circumcise. The brit is mentioned in the grace after meals as being “the covenant with the Lord that has been sealed in our flesh.” The prophet Ezekiel proclaimed that Israel would live eternally, as the blood of circumcision bespeaks the readiness for self-sacrifice that exists eternally within the Jewish People.

The actual surgery consists of three stages:  the removal of the upper layer of the foreskin (the orlah) with a special surgical knife; the removal of the lower mucous membrane (or haperiah); and the guarantee of normal blood circulation in the affected area by the drawing of some blood before the area is bandaged and the blood flow staunched. The surgery itself is traditionally performed by a mohel – a ritual circumciser who is a specialist in this medical procedure and in the Jewish laws governing it.

The ceremony usually takes place in the home of the infant or in the family’s synagogue, and is a festive occasion. Blessings are recited over a cup of wine and the baby is then  given his Jewish name. In unison, thee congregation and guests present at the ceremony say  the Hebrew blessing that “just as the boy has entered into the Covenant of Abraham, so too may he grow up healthy and well and enter Bar Mitzvah, the wedding canopy and the continued accomplishments of a life of good deeds.” A meal is served to all present to celebrate the performance of this important and beloved precept.

Many different honours are distributed to members of the family, friends or dignitaries present during the brit milah ceremony. These include bringing the baby into the room for the ceremony, holding the baby while the blessings are recited, holding the baby while he is receiving his name, naming the baby, reciting the blessings, and carrying the baby out of the room at the conclusion of the ceremony.

The primary honour is given to the sandak, who holds the baby on his lap when the surgery is being performed. This honour is usually given to a grandfather or some other distinguished personage. Since Jewish tradition teaches us that the Prophet Elijah is present at all circumcisions, to bear witness to Jewish loyalty to its covenant with God, a special chair is prepared for Elijah. The baby is placed on that chair before being lifted and given to the sandak for the circumcision. Many synagogues have an ornate “Elijah’s chair” for use at circumcision ceremonies. Thus, the brit milah ceremony is an emotional combination of tradition, mysticism, surgical precision, family pride and joy – and is the ultimate expression of Jewish commitment to its past and its future destiny.

Adapted from Living Jewish by Rabbi Berel Wein, Shaar Press