The Mohel

2.1    Before commencing training

  • The student Mohel must be approved by the Beth Din (Rabbinical Court) and The Regulatory Board as a person fit to undertake the practice of Brit Milah.
  • Before commencing practical training the student Mohel must obtain a SA Police Clearance certificate and a Sexual Offences Clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. This is a critical governance requirement for all people working with minors and babies.
  • The student Mohel must demonstrate immunity against hepatitis B before any physical contact with babies. In practice this means that the Mohel may observe but not be actively involved with a Brit Milah until after he has finished an immunisation course and demonstrated immunity. He must demonstrate that he maintains immunity long term.
  • Mohalim will be required to be tested on an annual basis for HIV and produce a medical certificate or test result as part of their accreditation requirements.
  • All of the above apply to Mohalim that have already been approved and currently practicing as Mohalim.

2.2    Training

2.2.1   The student Mohel must become competent in all practical aspects of Brit Milah including surgery, consent, communication with parents and awareness of legal requirements. The student Mohel must also study theoretical aspects including Halachic knowledge, surgical anatomy, safe use of local anaesthesia and analgesia, hygiene and child protection.

  • The student Mohel must keep a training log.
  • The student Mohel must pass a medical examination, a Halachic examination and a practical examination before being qualified to perform Brit Milah.

2.3   Contact Details

2.3.1   The Mohel must inform The regulatory Board of his full contact details including name, address, phone numbers, email address and any relevant personal website. He must also promptly update The Board of any changes to these details.

2.4    Personal Hygiene

2.4.1   The Mohel must wash his hands with alcohol based bactericidal soap and dry his hands on a clean towel before touching a baby at any time.

2.5     Use of Medical Substances

2.5.1     A Mohel who is not medically qualified must not use any drugs, dressings or other medical substances except those approved by The regulatory Board and contained in its published list (See Appendix 2a)

Appendix 2b outlines key medical information for Mohalim.
Appendix 2c outlines medical information for the public available on the website.

2.6     Health of the Mohel

2.6.1    The Mohel must not have any contact with a baby nor undertake any procedure if he is or believes he may be becoming ill in a way which will or may affect the health of the baby.

2.7     Record Keeping

2.7.1     Mohalim are expected to complete the electronic registration and procedure form contained on the official website www.britmilahsa.co.za. Mohalim will be given password protected access to these forms on the website. These forms must be completed for every Brit Milah undertaken. On submission of this document, Mohalim will immediately receive via email an electronic copy of their submission for their own record keeping purposes. The Mohel should make records at the same time as the events he is recording or as soon as possible afterwards.

2.7.2   The Mohel must keep records that contain personal information about clients, colleagues or others securely, and in line with any data protection requirements such as the new South African POPIA Act. (Information regarding what is relevant in terms of the Act is outlined Appendix 3).

2.7.3    The electronic registration and procedure forms include:

  • Demographic details of the child and contact details.
  • Relevant medical history and examination prior to circumcision.
  • Confirm whether informed consent has been given and signed for.
  • Procedure notes.
  • Information given to caregivers and details of communication.
  • Decisions made and actions agreed.
  • Who is making the decisions and agreeing the actions.
  • Details of any drugs and dressings used or advised.
  • Any recommendations, investigations or treatment.
  • Who is making the record and when.
  • (A copy of this form is included under Appendix 4).

2.8     Other duties of the Mohel

2.8.1   The Mohel must adhere to the Halachic rulings accepted by The Regulatory Board.

2.8.2   The Mohel should uphold the values of Judaism and The Regulatory Board.

2.8.3   The Mohel must stop practising where there is a change in his own health which might affect performance or pose risk to babies or their families.

2.8.5   The Mohel must contact the Medical Officer and make a report as soon as practical where he believes that a complication may have occurred, where he has any other concerns about the safety of a circumcision, whether carried out by himself or someone else or where he reasonably anticipates that an incident may be reported to The Regulatory Board.