“AND HE THAT IS EIGHT DAYS OLD SHALL BE CIRCUMCISED AMONG YOU, EVERY MALE THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS” - GENESIS 17:12.

The sacred practice of traditional circumcision was first performed by the Jewish Patriarch Abraham, and the tradition has continued in every generation of the Jewish people. The Torah states that the Brit Milah ceremony is to take place on the eighth day of life. The Torah does not explain why the eighth day was chosen, so we follow it as a matter of great faith. The ceremony takes place even if that day falls on the Sabbath or a holiday, including Yom Kippur. The only reason the ritual would not be performed on that day is if the child is ill or too weak to safely undergo the procedure. In which case, the Mohel and family physician work together to determine the earliest date that is safe for the child to undergo the ceremony.

The word Bris (or Brit) literally translated to covenant. The Brit Milah ceremony reaffirms the original covenant between G-d and Abraham, our forefather, over 3,500 years ago. The reason we perform this ceremony, for the Jewish people, has nothing to do with health or medical reasons. It is the sign of the covenant and it identifies one as a member of the Jewish people. The Torah places the primary obligation of performing the traditional circumcision on the baby's father. However, he may delegate a qualified Mohel to be his agent to perform the Bris.