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