Repost XI: Halakhic v Hashkafic Topics and Discussions

Defining What Are Halakhic Issues (actual Jewish law) v What Are Hashkafic Issues (approaches determined by a worldview, but not necessarily by Halakha)

An important follow up to the previous - addressing two particular points

TOC - Miscellaneous essays on a variety of subjects - A Table of Contents collection from a few years ago

Where shuls and rabbis could be either helpful or make the bris experience more challenging depending on standards they might want to set

Hashkafa Playing a Role in How we View Bris

What Bris Milah is All About

Repost X: Describing Tools of the Trade + Additional Thoughts on Some of Them

Following in the theme of the last few posts, this is a review of much of what I've written about the different surgical instruments and otherwise that are used for Bris Milah in our time. Above the line of asterisks are links to descriptions of each item and how it is used. Below the asterisks are expansions on some of the items, which are more "discussed" in some "Hashkafic" arenas surrounding Bris Milah  Though deeper "Hashkafic Dives" will be presented in the next "Repost"

This is presented in the order each item would be used

NUMBING

GLOVES             

MARKER              

PROBE 

Repost IX: Taking Care of Baby Post-Bris, Immediate and Longer Term

 This is part of a series in which I am reposting older material in a more organized fashion. This post is strictly about monitoring how the circumcision heals, and some issues which may come up down the road, specifically in the weeks which follow the circumcision, and sometimes even months later if the baby becomes particular fat in the thighs. This is not discussing any other issues of baby care.

After the bris, when my job is done (there is no longer a bandage on and the baby isn't bleeding), the parents' job of taking care of the healing circumcision kicks in. In simple terms, it is recommended to keep the area lubricated in the initial days following circumcision, while also protecting the circumcision from the bacteria associated with stool (aka 'poop.')

The post-Bris care page is most helpful for the immediate attention the baby needs

Repost VIII: What Happens in the Bris (Stages of Circumcision)

 The Bris (technically, the Milah = Circumcision) has a few stages that a Mohel must follow in order to produce a "Kosher Bris" and, hopefully a nice circumcision as well.

We have already "reposted" the methods of circumcision (2nd link shared on that page)

The day of the bris, the baby should stop eating a small time before the moment of circumcision, to avoid the possibility of his spitting up and choking will crying. 

People stand when the baby is brought in to the room

This basically describes the ceremony that everyone sees

This is what circumcision looks like (in words, no photos, except of a banana)

Repost VII: Timing and Delaying the Bris

Just about everyone knows that the Bris takes place on the 8th day of life. 

Not everyone knows that the first day of life counts as "Day 1," no matter what time of day it is, as long as it is before sunset. 

So, a baby born any time in the AM on Monday, until sunset on Monday, will have his bris the following Monday.  Born after sunset on Monday will have his bris the following Tuesday. (fill in any other day of the week for a similar equation... exception to follow)

Repost VI: Defining Terms of the Bris Ceremony

A little while back I wrote several mini articles defining some of the most common terms and phrases related to Bris.  This is different than the tools of the trade, which will be reposted soon.  

• Bris Milah

• Kibbudim

• Milah U'Priah

• Kisei Shel Eliyahu

• Bris (similar to Bris Milah)

• Milah and Mohel

• Baal Bris
• Metzitzah - This is a link to the Metzitzah page which covers this topic from top to bottom. The links which include videos are outdated as the videos have all been taken down from youtube (shock of shocks)

Repost V: Choosing Your Mohel

Mohels (religious ritual circumcisers) are trained in different ways, and may have different methods of circumcising and tending to the post-circ wound.

Training and experience lead to there being Different Kinds of Mohels

Here is a summary of the different ways most mohels might circumcise

Here are good questions to ask a Mohel (further research required to find the answers YOU WANT TO HEAR)   [And a summary of links made much earlier in the history of this blog]

Is cleanliness and sterility important to you?

It is important to pick a mohel who is confident in what he does, but also humble about what he does (don't look for someone who calls himself "the most authentic"), and honest about being human (while aiming for perfection!)

This was meant to be a guide for finding your son's Mohel

This provided a bunch of links and concerns you ought to consider and even VOICE in your finding the mohel best fit for your family

Repost IV: Preparing the Mind

In life, we often have dreams of what the "perfect" day will look like. The perfect wedding, the perfect vacation, the perfect Shabbos table, the perfect child, the perfect spouse. 

Reality tends to bite hard in most cases, as we discover that perfection is a lot harder to come by than we thought, hoped, and planned for.

And so it is with brisses. Whether the caterer forgets a detail, an important family member gets stuck in traffic, the mohel comes an hour late (something I work very hard to avoid doing, btw!), or even if the circumcision itself doesn't come out perfectly... we have to always hope and pray for the best, but prepare for imperfection to be the reality.

Repost III: Setting Up For the Bris

Just to make clear: This is not advice on how to set up the celebratory meal and/or buffet

The original post on this subject can be found here.

While the link above will suffice, just remember these few tips.

If there is a ceremony (as opposed to a very private affair), the bris should be in a prominent place in the room

There should be good lighting, so the mohel can see what he is doing!

Every mohel needs a table to lay out his supplies. It should be larger than a TV table. A card table or most folding tables are adequate.

There either need to be one or two chairs available - for the Chair of Elijah (Kisei Eliyahu). If the chairs available are barstool height, there should be some kind of stepstool available for the Sandak to put his legs so he can easily hold the baby. 

It is also very helpful for a private room to be designated or arranged (if in a venue outside of the home) for the mohel to examine the baby before hand and afterwards, particularly if he intends to check the bandage before leaving. 

Repost II: Planning the Bris Celebration Party (Budgeting tips as well)

You may or may not have been to a bris before. People have brisses in every kind of venue, from a synagogue to a JCC, a country club party room to a restaurant, a relative's (or friend's) house to the home of the baby.

Sometimes I joke that "I won't do a bris in a church" (even though I'm being serious, but it sounds funny).

There are a number of other celebrations that come with the birth of a boy - such as a Kiddush on Shabbos in Shul, a Shalom Zachar, or a Brit Yitzchak. Those are mentioned here

Now we will focus solely on the The Bris Itself 

The link above (two lines up) goes into detail, but here are a few things you'll want to consider.

How Elaborate? It's a matter of taste, size of guest list, and - of course - budget.