When does the Bris take place?
Under normal circumstances, the Bris is performed on the eighth day of the child’s life. For example, is he is born on Tuesday, the Bris is performed on the following Tuesday.
The Bris needs to be performed during the daytime. A Bris performed at night or before the eighth day is not considered a Bris.
On the Jewish calendar, the day changes at sundown. Tuesday evening after sundown is considered Wednesday. If there is a question as to whether the baby was born before or after sundown, we err on the side of caution, and consider him to have been born after sundown.
Sometimes there are circumstances that require the Bris to take place later than the eighth day. If, for example, there are health concerns, such as jaundice or insufficient birth weight, the Bris is postponed until after the baby is medically cleared for circumcision. In the event of a question, I will work with your pediatrician in determining the appropriate date for the Bris.
There are other circumstances that require/allow the delay of a Bris. I will be happy to discuss this with you.
Where should the Bris ceremony take place?
Many people have the Bris done in their synagogue, right after Morning Services. Others prefer to have it done in the home. Wherever you choose to do the Bris, please make sure that there is a private room where I can prepare him for the Bris, and where I can take him after the Bris for his “post-op” examination.
Is a Minyan Required?
A Bris is an important celebration. It is appropriate to have a large group of friends and relatives joining you and your son on his special day. But a Minyan is NOT required. Minimally, you need a baby and a Mohel!
What Honors are given out at the Bris?
See here for a list of people who should be there to perform the various functions that are appropriate at the Bris.
Will you come to see the baby after the Bris?
Whenever possible, I come back personally to remove the dressing, usually a day or two after the Bris. In those situations that I am not able to come, I will give you clear step-by-step guidance as to what needs to be done.
Also, when possible, I like to see the baby a few months after the Bris to see how he’s healing. Please make sure to call me to stop by for a visit.
How do I care for the baby after the Bris? How long does it take to heal?
I will go over all the post-Bris care instructions with you on the day of the Bris. Be aware that I am available 24/6 to take any of your calls to discuss your concerns.
Every baby is different. Don’t assume that your son’s reaction to his Bris will be the same as his older brother’s, or your nephews’, or the kid Dr. Spock wrote about.
Some babies are totally calm as if nothing ever happened. Some are very cranky until the dressing is removed. And then you have the ones who lull you into a false sense of security by being calm and laid back all day, only to start crying in the middle of the night!
All of these scenarios are normal.
He has just gone through some minor surgery; it is normal for him be cranky.
What about Baby Tylenol? There are different schools of thought as to whether it is appropriate to give him Tylenol at his age. If he is very uncomfortable, consult your pediatrician for advice about Tylenol.
What can you tell me about sterile surgical procedure?
I use sterile gloves and a single-use sterile scalple. All my other instruments are sterilized in an autoclave. The dressings that I put on the baby after the Bris are autoclaved as well.
What is “Metzitzah?”
Circumcision is a Commandment from God. It is also a surgical procedure, which needs to be done carefully and hygienically. (Safeguarding health is also a Commandment from God!) The Talmud states that for health reasons, the initial blood from the incision needs to be suctioned away from the wound site.
There are various means of accomplishing this suction. The method I use (sterile tube) satisfies the requirements of orthodox authorities such as Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, 1 the Chazon Ish, 2 the Chofetz Chaim, 3 Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spector, Rabbi Sampson Raphael Hirsch and others, without compromising sterile surgical procedure.
Feel free to call me for more information about these or any other questions.
1
כך שמעתי מבנו יב״ל הגאון הרב ראובן ואני עשיתי מציצה בשפופרת בהסכמתו כשהוא היה סנדק, וגם בהסכמת אחיו מורי ורבי הגאון הרב דוד שליט״א כשהוא היה סנדק
2
הרב אליהו גלאקסמאן זצ״ל, דיין בקהל עדת ישורון אמר לי שהחזון איש היה סנדק בבריתיהם של כמה מבניו. פעם אחת קרה שהמוהל עשה מציצה בשפופרת. הגאון רב שמואל וואזנר שליט״א לא היה שמח ואמר כן לאבי הבן. הרב גלאקסמאן יעץ לו לדבר אם החזון איש שהיה סנדק ולא מחה. הרב וואזנר הלך עם החזון איש הביתה לווכך אתו אבל החזון איש לא הסכים לדבריו. בסוף השיחה החזון איש אמר לרב וואזנר ״אם הייתי יודע שאתה היית שם , הייתי אומר למוהל שלא להשתמש בשפופרת!״
הרב גלאקסמאן אמר לי שלדעת החזון איש, אם המוהל שם שפופרת על מקום המילה ושם את פיו על צד השני של השפופרת הרי זה מציצה בפה ממש – משא״כ כשעושים מציצה ע״י ספוג, (כמו שמובא מבה״ל למטה) שאין זה מציצה בפה כלל
3
סי׳ ק״ל, בה״ל ד״ה ופורעין ומוצצין, שהוא מתיר בספוג לבד,אפילו בלי שפופרת
Click here for the first page of the Biur Halacha quoted above. Second page
בנוגע לכפפות – אחד מגדולי הרבנים המפורסמים בעירי מאנסי נ.י. אמר בשיעור ברבים שהמוהלים שלובשים כפפות על ידיהם עושים חילול ה׳. הרב הזה לא ידע שהרב שמעון שוואב זצ״ל היקפיד על מוהלי קהילתו (וגם – ל״ע – על חברי החברא קדישא) שילבשו כפפות
