The first instance of an individual undergoing circumcision at the age of eight days was Yitzchak (Isaac), the son of Avraham and Sarah, who holds the distinction of being the first Jew to experience this ritual. Despite the novelty of circumcising an infant, Avraham conducted Yitzchak’s bris with profound joy. This historical event established a tradition linking the practice of bris with a sense of happiness and celebration. According to Torah teachings, Avraham and Sarah marked Yitzchak’s bris with a festive gathering, a custom that endures to this day.
-You can swaddle the baby by wrapping them tightly with a receiving blanket.
-Hold them on their stomach and gently pat their back.
-Offer your clean pinky for them to suck on.
-Gently rock them in an up-and-down motion.
By commemorating your son’s bris, you are upholding one of the oldest and most significant traditions within our Jewish faith. Bris Milah, or “covenant of circumcision,” traces its origins back almost 4,000 years when Hashem (God) instructed Abraham, the first Jew, to undergo circumcision. This act symbolizes the covenant between Hashem and B’nai Yisrael (Children of Israel). Abraham, at the age of 99, performed the circumcision on himself, and Hashem established it as an eternal mitzvah (commandment). Every Jewish father is tasked with ensuring that each male child born to a Jewish mother undergoes circumcision on the eighth day of life. If the father is not qualified to perform the procedure, he has the option to designate a certified mohel as his representative.
The Shalom Zachar is a Jewish custom observed on the first Friday evening after the birth of a child. It is a warm and welcoming gathering to celebrate the arrival of the newborn into the world.
During the Shalom Zachar, attendees come together to welcome the child. It’s considered a festive occasion where traditional foods like chickpeas, wine, and cake are served. Blessings are also given to the child and its parents.
Vach Nacht, translated as “wake night,” is a Jewish custom observed on the night before the bris (circumcision ceremony) where the father of the child stays awake throughout the night. During this time, he recites special passages from the kabbalah and Psalms. The purpose of Vach Nacht is to safeguard the baby from any disruptive forces, ensuring the smooth observance of the upcoming bris mitzvah.
On the night before the bris, the father remains awake and recites specific passages from the kabbalah and Psalms to protect the baby from potential disruptions. Additionally, small children are often invited to participate by reciting the “Shema” at the baby’s bedside, and the passage ‘HaMalach HaGoel’ (The angel who redeems me…) is recited, adding a meaningful and protective element to this pre-bris ritual.
The bris is a joyous event that should take place during the daytime, preferably in the early morning hours. The chosen day for the bris is considered a festive occasion.
It is crucial that a minyan, a quorum of at least ten Jewish males above the age of thirteen, be present throughout every step of the bris ceremony. This is because a larger gathering is seen as a greater honor to G-d and the mitzvah.
The sandek, holding the baby during the bris milah, is steeped in both honor and mystical meaning. Believed to act as a spiritual shield and influence the child’s character, choosing one involves seeking a righteous individual, often a close relative, whose values you admire and who will maintain a positive connection with your child.
A mohel is a specially trained person who performs circumcisions. The mohel must be an expert in the way he performs this important mitzvah, because if it is not done correctly, the removal of the foreskin will not be done properly. Choose a mohel who is qualified and experienced.
Traditionally, the bris (circumcision) marks the complete union of the baby’s body and soul. It’s believed that before this, the Divine soul’s light hasn’t fully arrived. Since the Hebrew name connects to the soul, the bris becomes a meaningful time to bestow it. Also, it’s customary to name children after righteous individuals, hoping their characteristics will inspire the child. The bris ceremony provides a natural opportunity to announce this chosen name with family and friends present.
Yes, a bris may be carried out on Shabbos or even on Yom Kippur, provided that it falls on the eighth day from birth. However, if the bris had to be postponed due to medical reasons such as jaundice or sickness, it cannot be performed on Shabbos or Jewish holidays. Additionally, a baby delivered through an unnatural birth, like a Caesarian section, has its bris on the eighth day from birth, as long as it does not coincide with Shabbos or Yom Tov.
A kvatter, literally meaning “like the father” in Yiddish, is someone who escorts the baby to the bris ceremony, traditionally from the mother to the person holding the baby during the circumcision (sandek). The pronunciation can vary depending on heritage.
The kvatter role is an honor often given to childless couples as a symbolic act (segulah) to bring them good luck in having their own child. By participating in bringing the baby to the bris, they are seen as acting “like parents” and are hoped to be blessed with parenthood themselves.