Doing Research Properly

I got an email today from someone with whom I had been in contact for a little while about possibly doing her soon-to-be-born son's bris.

She apologized profusely, saying "my husband wants to try a doctor this time." This was followed by "Hope no hard feelings."

First of all - there are NEVER hard feelings when people are doing research and being open. You must do what you feel is best for your son and your family. And I support that.

However, you must also do RESEARCH and know what you are getting into, no matter who you hire for your son's bris.

This isn't a question of Dr. v. Mohel. A mohel, after all, is a specialist in this field. So being a Doctor doesn't make anyone better at circumcisions than a mohel.

What DOES matter, is how the circumcision is performed.

What METHOD is used

Whether the precaution of a marker is utilized

How much foreskin (see #5 there) and membrane is removed

And, of course, the follow up.

There are MANY fine mohels. There are MANY fine doctor-mohels. The questions every person must ask before hiring either one is, "Have I done my research? Do I know what I want for my son? Have I found the right mohel-specialist for the experience I want my son to have, and the experience I want to have?"

When the answer to all of these questions is YES, then proceed accordingly. Until that time, there is work to be done as a parent. Best of luck!!