What is the Meaning of Jewish Ritual Circumcision?

The Covenant of Circumcision

Brit milah (read as bris miloh in Ashkenazi) is a Hebrew term for the Jewish circumcision ritual. A mohel performs this religious rite on male infants that are 8 days old. Jewish circumcision is the process of removing the foreskin from the penis by a mohel. This is a popular Jewish tradition. It is said to signify the unique relationship between that of a Jewish boy and God. It has been a Jewish tradition to name the boy after his bris. Biblical origins of this tradition dates back to Abraham, who is the founding patriarch of Judaism. It has been told in the Book of Genesis that Abraham saw God when he was 99 years old. The sacred Book of Genesis states that God told Abraham to have himself and all the other men circumcised to signify the covenant. Genesis 17:9-14 states that: As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant. Originally, it is the fathers who were commanded to circumcise their sons, but eventually, the sacred duty was transferred to a Mohel. The circumciser is better known as the Mohel. It is a Jewish name for a person who was trained to practice the covenant of circumcision or brit milah. There are three stages of Bris Milah. The stages are the following:

Blessing and circumcision Kiddush and naming Seudat Mitzvah

Jewish tradition demands that the brit ceremony be done in the morning. Nonetheless, the ceremony can be carried out before the sun sets. The house where the parents live is the usual place for the ceremony to be conducted, but there may be other possible venues. The ceremony cannot proceed without any of the following: the father, the Sandek, and the Mohel. The Sandek is a person assigned to hold the male infant during the course of the ceremony. This would be usually a man, could be the grandparent, brother, cousin, or a very close friend of the father of

the baby boy. The circumcision rite begins when the mother of the baby boy gives him to the Kvatterin. The Kvatterin is what the Jewish people call the baby boys godmother. After being handed to the Kvatterin, the baby boy shall be taken to the ceremony room. The baby boy is then handed to the Kvatter. The childs godfather is called Kvatter in Jewish. Part of the custom are guests greeting the baby Baruch HaBa or blessed be he who comes. The baby is then handed to the Sandek. The Sandek will hold the baby until the circumcision procedure is finished.The Mohel speaks the blessing sermon before the actual circumcision is conducted. Once the procedure is finished, the father of the baby boy shall recite another blessing message to give thanks to God. The response of the guests is this: As he entered into the covenant, so may he be introduced to the study of Torah, to the wedding canopy, and to good deeds. A blessing over the wine is conducted, and this part of the ceremony is called Kiddush. While the prayer is being spoken, a drop of wine is placed in the mouth of the baby. A longer prayer will follow that will give him his name. Seudat mitzvah can be translated in English to mean commanded meal. In Judaism, it is the obligatory festive meal that follows a fulfillment of a commandment including brit milah. The Jewish people believe that sharing a meal is a significant custom, especially during ceremonies when there is a need to express gratitude to God. This is about a new life and about acknowledging this new life.

The Spirituality of Jewish People

Jewish people put a prime on their spirituality. Enlightening every person with the Torah principles, which could help them in making the right choices in their everyday life, is a major goal of every Jewish individual. This is rooted in the belief that every individual has the duty to learn how they can act in a way that would please God. This brings about spiritual growth for oneself. The Jewish people are known for following strict customs. Adhering to stringent customs has made their culture rich and alive after all these times. For instance, they know how to control themselves during tough circumstances. They are too scared to perform acts that God forbids. The typical Jewish has this perpetual thirst to a certain level of intellectual and emotional honesty that will make them transcend to the ultimate good. The ultimate salvation is what drives them to seek the essential goodness to inspire the world in achieving salvation. There is a spark of holiness within every person.

Author: Mohel Rabbi Avrohom Rubin