tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31843569870716382812024-03-14T15:55:20.305-07:00Rabbi Avi Billet, Mohel in South FloridaThe most comprehensive source of information about Bris Milah on the Internet!
Click on any of the pages, find topics of interest through a search on the right or the Topical Index below... Best of luck to you in your research and with your babyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger416125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-61146402275540715332024-03-14T15:51:00.000-07:002024-03-14T15:51:43.210-07:00Purim and a Bris<p> Purim is a little over a week away.</p><p><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2019/12/bris-on-chanukah-or-purim.html">Click here for a brief summary</a> of what might be different on Purim.</p><p>An interesting question can be raised regarding a Purim Bris. </p><p>Since the Bris is a mitzvah which is typically accompanied by its own Seudas Mitzvah, AND there is a Rabbinic Mitzvah to have a special meal on Purim, can the meals be combined? Do there <b>need </b>to be 2 separate meals?</p><p>In a simple sense, the <i>halakha</i> recommends that the Purim Seudah be in the afternoon, presumably so that all the other obligations of the day are over - one has already given Matanos L'Evyonim, one has delivered Mishloach Manos, one has heard the Megillah... now a person can relax, drink a little extra (slightly more than usual), and if necessary fall asleep. However, the Seudah MAY take place in the morning, if that is one's preference.</p><p>A bris celebration often takes place in the morning, due to the attempt to fulfill the concept of זריזין מקדימין למצוות - those who are punctilious rush to do mitzvos as early as possible. </p><p>While I am sure it happens all the time, I only recall one time that I had a bris on Purim. The family chose to have the bris in the afternoon, at Mincha, and invited their guests to a co-Purim-and-Bris celebratory meal.</p><p>Could they have had a normal bris meal and later had Purim Seudah with their normal "family crowd?"</p><p>Absolutely. While one is only obligated to have one Purim Seudah, it does not mean someone is not allowed to have two celebratory meals on Purim day. </p><p>Mazal tov! Enjoy! And it is wonderful to have added Simcha!!!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-30800163316556562692024-02-08T12:00:00.000-08:002024-02-10T22:23:17.636-08:00Appreciation<p>It's hard to explain how much of a privilege it is to serve as a Mohel.</p><p>For most Jews, there is no question about <i>whether </i>we will circumcise our child. The questions are usually more along the line of where and what time, as the date is usually chosen based on the baby's arrival... on the 8th day of his life (unless there is a medical reason to delay).</p><p>The other question, for the non-mohel-father (the mohel father will circumcise his own son) is "who will we have to help us fulfill this mitzvah?" While none of these are guarantees of the direction parents will go, most people who have a relative who is a mohel will typically go to that relative. People who have a friend who is a mohel might go that route as well. Sometimes a set of grandparents will be fond of a particular mohel and they'll do the hiring (and often carrying the financial load) for all of their grandsons. </p><p>Some communities have a mohel who has a monopoly on the community (so to speak), and "everyone uses him." In those cases, the question is never "who will help us...?" but rather "is he available?"</p><p>Some people don't live in that one-mohel-for-all kind of community, and will therefore ask their friends things like, "Who was your mohel? Were you happy with the experience?" That will often go the longest way in helping people decide what is best for them and their baby.</p><p>And thus it is an absolute privilege to be considered for this important role - at a vulnerable time in your family's story, for an intimate insider's view into your family's dynamic, to play a special role in your fulfillment of this special mitzvah.</p><p>Many people tell me afterwards how much they appreciated the role I played, whether the bris was a more explanatory one, or more of a straightforward ceremony type. I try to match the "service provided" with the read on the family that I get, and thankfully, for the most part, it's usually an excellent match, me with each unique family.</p><p>All I'm saying is "As much as you appreciate it, I appreciate the trust and the opportunity to help and guide your family through this mitzvah, while giving your son the best care I can, and hopefully producing the best results I can."</p><p>As always, thank you for your entrusting your son to my care.</p><p>I know that when all is over, he will be fine and in the right hands... YOUR hands... and this day will not even be a memory for him. </p><p>Hopefully for you, you'll remember the results more than the process, and will look back at the bris as a memorable and special day in all of your lives. </p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-61971158139770561642024-01-24T19:50:00.000-08:002024-01-24T19:50:58.633-08:00Naming the Baby Before the Bris? A Mi Sheberach for naming...<p>This question comes up every now and then - can the baby be named before the Bris?</p><p>The answer is YES, but the circumstances for why you'd want to do that are far less than ideal.</p><p>Before I get into this here, just to note that this is a popular question in Israeli websites:</p><p><a href="https://din.org.il/2013/04/25/%D7%A9%D7%9D-%D7%9C%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%A7-%D7%9C%D7%A4%D7%A0%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%AA/">Din.org</a></p><p><a href="https://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/18311">https://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/18311</a></p><p><a href="https://www.medethics.org.il/article/r0041236a/">https://www.medethics.org.il/article/r0041236a/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.hidush.co.il/hidush.asp?id=10895">https://www.hidush.co.il/hidush.asp?id=10895</a></p><p><a href="https://ask-dh.org/2021/07/21/14892/f">https://ask-dh.org/2021/07/21/14892/f</a></p><p><br /></p><p>I've addressed it before in two places: </p><p>Here: <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2015/06/when-there-is-no-bris.html">http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2015/06/when-there-is-no-bris.html</a></p><p>And here: <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2019/12/naming-baby-when-his-bris-is-to-be.html">http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2019/12/naming-baby-when-his-bris-is-to-be.html</a></p><p>The main goal here is put on the Internet a suitable Mi Sheberach for this situation in which the child is named and a prayer is offered that his Bris should take place at the right time for him (which may be after a tragic illness, or may be when he has a corrective surgery for an anatomical abnormality that developed in utero, for which six months need to pass until he can safely undergo general anesthesia and have that important procedure). So here it is: (First I embedded the text in the blog, then I put an image that it may be easier to download and print)</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 36.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ליולדת זכר וקריאת השם:</span><span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 36.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 36.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב
משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן דָּוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת הָאִשָּׁה הַיּוֹלֶדֶת (פב"פ)
וְאֶת בְּנָהּ הַנּוֹלָד לָהּ בְּמַזָּל טוֹב, וְיִקָּרֵא שְׁמוֹ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל (פב"פ),
בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁבַּעְלָהּ יִתֵּן לִצְדָקָה בַּעֲדָהּ, בִּשְׂכַר זֶה יִזְכּוּ
אָבִיו וְאִמוֹ לְגַדְּלוֹ לְתוֹרָה וּלְחֻפָּה וּלְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים וּלְהַכְנִיסוֹ
בִּבְרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ בְּעִתּוֹ וּבִזְמַנּוֹ הַנָכוֹן לוֹ.
וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן:</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 36.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRer4R3zVtWIqFW8u5wd0fsF5epsDXOR2f_-DOwF4C3ZmmgpJ4ZiZIJqWDuOOnnAgpgtg0NuJ3FHmGSxWTDTBiZQt5ypFXe596rJU7ogUJOyPsn1HwcZGoq0sxCqPsjfZxaPwg4BUYeIzHffPEaQ-g_e8baM8KHNdrfu0Cw1E8qkCi60G01SCJo97WaU/s1170/IMG_3860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1170" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRer4R3zVtWIqFW8u5wd0fsF5epsDXOR2f_-DOwF4C3ZmmgpJ4ZiZIJqWDuOOnnAgpgtg0NuJ3FHmGSxWTDTBiZQt5ypFXe596rJU7ogUJOyPsn1HwcZGoq0sxCqPsjfZxaPwg4BUYeIzHffPEaQ-g_e8baM8KHNdrfu0Cw1E8qkCi60G01SCJo97WaU/w400-h351/IMG_3860.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 36.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-57182442420650593522023-12-24T06:30:00.000-08:002024-03-14T15:54:48.698-07:00Letters to Family<p> Here is a compilation of the letters I've written for specific circumstances and for specific people who either need a little assistance or a gentle reminder of what we are doing when it comes to preparing for a bris.</p><p><i>First, there's the note for <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2014/03/dear-husband.html">the husband</a> who might be a little overwhelmed with what's been going on. Yes, you are the baby's dad, but you are also a husband to a special lady. Remember that!</i></p><p><i>Then there's the note for <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/08/a-note-to-moms.html">the mom</a>, who may be having a tough time post the arrival of baby. Especially with the thought of the bris. <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/08/a-note-to-moms.html">This one's for you!</a></i></p><p><i>Some grandparents totally "get" their role and know how to put everyone at ease and to make everyone comfortable. Some <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2018/09/dear-grandparents.html">grandparents</a> need this reminder, which includes the disclaimer that if you are the grandparent described in the previous sentence, you can skip it.</i></p><p><i>Here are instructions for <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2012/03/fathers-role.html">the dad</a> - not as much a letter as much as some final thoughts before the bris.<br /></i></p><p><i>And here's a note <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2018/09/how-to-explain-bris-to-younger-children.html">to PARENTS for how to explain the bris to curious children</a> who are only a few years older than the baby</i></p><p><i>And for the unique circumstance where there is no bris, there is a suggested way to let family know there can be a celebration without a bris, because the bris will have to be taken care of in a different way at the right time. You can see <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2015/06/when-there-is-no-bris.html">all of that here</a></i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-61435671149065163892023-12-19T18:26:00.000-08:002023-12-19T18:38:23.309-08:00Mohel In South Florida is Still Here!<p>Life sometimes gets in the way of posting things here. </p><p>As some people expect to see new content to know that this page and service is still being provided in South Florida (and beyond!) here is an update for all well-wishers and new parents, from the end of December 2023.</p><p>The last few brisses I have presided over, essentially since after October 7, have all included homage to Israel. The Jewish community - no matter level of observance or affiliation - is feeling the pain of what our brothers and sisters in Israel are going through. </p><p>Whether it is an additional prayer, or perhaps a child being named for a soldier who fell in battle, or for some other victim who left no child and no legacy, people are finding creative and meaningful ways to fulfill the verse of אם אשכחך ירושלים, if I forget thee O Jerusalem...</p><p>So many people are connected within 1 to 2 degrees of separation either to victims of 10/7 or to soldiers who are on the front lines.</p><p>Through it all, babies are still being born, Baruch Hashem, and the boys need their Bris Milah.</p><p><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/p/about-me.html">This mohel</a> is still providing bris services, and I look forward to doing so, with God's help, for many more years. <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2012/02/welcome-to-mohel-in-south-florida.html">Go here to the welcome page</a>.</p><p>As to how much I'll be blogging... that we shall see.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-89296475271224358082023-07-30T14:31:00.002-07:002023-07-30T14:31:31.432-07:00Summer Time - Again! Making rounds...<p>It's summer time in Florida and I am happy to report that babies are being born!</p><p>It is always a little busier here at mohelinsouthflorida.com during the summer. During this summer I've been to local places, such as Boca Raton and Hollywood, and I've also been to Jupiter, Melbourne, and heading this week to Ocala!</p><p>At a bris this morning, one set of guests was a family for whom I did their son's bris several months ago. His parents told me they were so pleased with their experience, especially since through their various moves, I was the third mohel they had hired - this had been their third son - so through benefit of comparison they appreciated our time together the most.</p><p>While the confidence boost is most appreciated, it is a testament to the effort I make to help people be comfortable with the whole experience, and hopefully make it positively memorable despite the inevitable difficult day it is for the baby (I shouldn't say "day." It's really a small window of time within one day. Babies move on very quickly from the experience!)</p><p>Looking forward to continuing to service your family's bris needs, with God's help, for many years!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-91880474431249684892023-06-12T03:30:00.002-07:002023-06-22T20:55:46.733-07:00Thanks for Bris Milah (8 of 8)<p><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I wrote an article for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1958542156?linkCode=sl1&tag=shikeypress-20&linkId=ae63ed140f5d623d12fe45e876f3203c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">this book</a> about Bris Milah, on the subject of 8 reasons for our having gratitude for this Mitzvah. This is the eighth and last part of this series of sharing this article here.</i></p><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-1-of-8.html">See part 1 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-2-of-8.html">See part 2 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/04/thanks-for-bris-milah-3-of-8.html">See part 3 here</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/04/thanks-for-bris-milah-4-of-8.html">See part 4 here</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/05/thanks-for-bris-milah-5-of-8.html">See part 5 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/05/thanks-for-bris-milah-6-of-8.html">See part 6 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/05/thanks-for-bris-milah-7-of-8.html">See part 7 here</a></div><div><br /></div>
This leads to our final reason for giving thanks for the Bris: R Luria adds that when a person leaves prison he must give thanks. After emerging from the womb, a form of solitary confinement, thanks must be recited. As we wait until the bris to celebrate the baby’s arrival, the bris is the proper time to say “Hodu” in the presence of the community and its elders. This reason is a little circular, as we are only expressing thanks after emerging from the womb post the Milah, but since the Milah holds off our trigger for giving thanks, the thanks is still partly due to the Milah. <div><br /></div><div> How appropriate it is that we have eight reasons for being thankful for the fundamental Mitzvah of Bris Milah, the defining covenant of our relationship with the Almighty, both in the Bris Milah ceremony, and in that regular opportunity afforded to us through Birkas Hamazon.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-35389658100298983542023-05-29T03:00:00.003-07:002023-06-22T20:54:10.602-07:00Thanks for Bris Milah (7 of 8)<p> <i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I wrote an article for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1958542156?linkCode=sl1&tag=shikeypress-20&linkId=ae63ed140f5d623d12fe45e876f3203c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">this book</a> about Bris Milah, on the subject of 8 reasons for our having gratitude for this Mitzvah. This is the seventh part of this series of sharing this article here.</i></p><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-1-of-8.html">See part 1 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-2-of-8.html">See part 2 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/04/thanks-for-bris-milah-3-of-8.html">See part 3 here</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/04/thanks-for-bris-milah-4-of-8.html">See part 4 here</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/05/thanks-for-bris-milah-5-of-8.html">See part 5 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/05/thanks-for-bris-milah-6-of-8.html">See part 6 here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>last time we concluded noting that "</i><i>the act of circumcision also opens the heart to receive the Torah." </i></div><div><br /></div><div>But there is a contradiction, because other peoples who were of Avraham’s seed – the Bnei Eisav and the Bnei Yishmael – were also circumcised! If so, circumcision would open their hearts to receive the Torah as well! </div><div><br /></div><div>The answer is simple. Since both of those nations rejected the Torah, per the Midrash of their having been offered it but finding the rules against murder and thievery being unacceptable to them (Mechilta, Yisro, “D’bachodesh 5”; Sifrei V’zos Habrach 343, etc), their circumcision status was also diminished in that only the Milah of Bnei Yisrael fit into the category of being a “matanah tovah,” opening the door so that the gift of the Oral Torah is exclusively for Israel. [This is a topic R Luria goes into much greater length, beyond the scope of this essay.] </div><div><br /></div><div>Our thanks in Birkas Hamazon and in the recitation of Hodu at the bris is supported by the Talmud’s declaration (Megillah 16b) that when the Jewish people rejoiced with “Sasson” (joy) that Sasson = Milah!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-28769197480900584342023-05-15T03:30:00.001-07:002023-05-15T03:30:00.275-07:00Thanks For Bris Milah (6 of 8)<p> <i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I wrote an article for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1958542156?linkCode=sl1&tag=shikeypress-20&linkId=ae63ed140f5d623d12fe45e876f3203c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">this book</a> about Bris Milah, on the subject of 8 reasons for our having gratitude for this Mitzvah. This is the sixth part of this series of sharing this article here.</i></p><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-1-of-8.html">See part 1 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-2-of-8.html">See part 2 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/04/thanks-for-bris-milah-3-of-8.html">See part 3 here</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/04/thanks-for-bris-milah-4-of-8.html">See part 4 here</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/05/thanks-for-bris-milah-5-of-8.html">See part 5 here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>We saw in part 5 that the circumcision is what makes us worthy of redemption and receiving the land of Israel</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div>
This is connected to a sixth reason to be grateful – for the act of circumcision is viewed by the Rabbis as a <i>matanah tovah</i>, a great gift from the Almighty, which by itself indicates a greater gratitude for the Covenant and the Circumcision than the simple fact of our having circumcised the flesh, because of what the great gift accompanies. <div><br /></div><div>Commenting on Rashi (Shemos 3:12) in which God told Moshe the people were worthy of being redeemed from Egypt because “I have a wonderful gift” for them – which Sifsei Chakhamim defines as being the <i>Torah She’baal Peh</i>, R’ Luria pins their worthiness to receive this gift on being circumcised, because the act of circumcision also opens the heart to receive the Torah.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-76500508713913426032023-05-01T03:00:00.002-07:002023-05-01T13:29:19.390-07:00Thanks For Bris Milah (5 of 8)<p> <i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I wrote an article for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1958542156?linkCode=sl1&tag=shikeypress-20&linkId=ae63ed140f5d623d12fe45e876f3203c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">this book</a> about Bris Milah, on the subject of 8 reasons for our having gratitude for this Mitzvah. This is the fifth part of this series of sharing this article here.</i></p><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-1-of-8.html">See part 1 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-2-of-8.html">See part 2 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/04/thanks-for-bris-milah-3-of-8.html">See part 3 here</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/04/thanks-for-bris-milah-4-of-8.html">See part 4 here</a> </div><p> A fifth reason to be thankful is for being His servants, as if branded like a slave for his master (Maharal Parshas Bo, Ch 12). Maharal reminds us that servitude only exists when there are people who serve. Pesach, which is only available as an “Avodah” to males who are circumcised, is a singular form of “service.” But Pesach alone doesn’t a servitude make. Milah is the key which demonstrates our being servants of the Almighty. It is how we fulfill being His servants (per Vayikra 25:55), and not servants of servants (Kiddushin 22b), that makes us worthy of redemption and of receiving the land – two of the promises associated with this Covenant.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-43046040511476468762023-04-17T03:00:00.001-07:002023-05-01T13:26:05.120-07:00Thanks for Bris Milah (4 of 8)<p> <i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I wrote an article for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1958542156?linkCode=sl1&tag=shikeypress-20&linkId=ae63ed140f5d623d12fe45e876f3203c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">this book</a> about Bris Milah, on the subject of 8 reasons for our having gratitude for this Mitzvah. This is the fourth part of this series of sharing this article here.</i></p><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-1-of-8.html">See part 1 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-2-of-8.html">See part 2 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/04/thanks-for-bris-milah-3-of-8.html">See part 3 here</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
A fourth reason to be grateful for circumcision is where Bris lies in the totem pole in comparison to the Torah itself. In order to fulfill our Birkas Hamazon obligation, we need to mention “Bris and Torah” in the bracha over the land (Brachos 49a). Rashi (Brachos 48b, see also Or Zarua I:199 (Laws of Meals), Levush OC 187:2) says that Bris Milah is mentioned specifically in that blessing because it was through that Covenant that Avraham was promised the land (see also Mishnah Brurah 187:7). <div><br /></div><div> There are at least three explanations given for why bris is mentioned first: A. 13 covenants were made at the Bris Milah (see Nedarim 31b), while there were only 3 covenants made at the giving of the Torah (Brachos 48b, see also Rashi there). B. the Bris predated the giving of the Torah by several hundred years. (Levush) C. As noted in a number of Midrashim (see Midrash Aggada Bereshis 47:29, Rabati Lekh Lekha p. 75 17:19), Bris (spelled out in Hebrew) has a numerical value of 612 + the act itself equals 613, equating it with all of the Torah, which has 613 commandments.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-66240646628680162452023-04-03T03:00:00.012-07:002023-05-01T13:24:21.967-07:00Thanks for Bris Milah (3 of 8)<div><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I wrote an article for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1958542156?linkCode=sl1&tag=shikeypress-20&linkId=ae63ed140f5d623d12fe45e876f3203c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">this book</a> about Bris Milah, on the subject of 8 reasons for our having gratitude for this Mitzvah. This is the third part of this series of sharing this article here.</i></p></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-1-of-8.html">See part 1 here</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-2-of-8.html">See part 2 here</a></div><div><br /></div>A third reason to be grateful for Milah stems from Avraham Avinu waiting at the gates of Gehinnom to protect his circumcised descendants from being trapped there (Eruvin 19a). R Luria notes that Gehinnom has no dominion over Milah, as evidenced in the “Hotel incident” after the burning bush (Shemos 4:24-26), when Moshe Rabbenu was consumed by angels trying to kill him over delaying his son’s circumcision (Rashi 4:24, Nedarim 32a). Zipporah thought Moshe was to die for having violated the prohibition against having relations with an Aramis (herself) for which the punishment is death. However, when she realized that the angels left his Milah untouched, she realized the solution to the problem was to circumcise her son. In this light, our gratitude for Milah is to be protected from Gehinnom.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-48424221193596782522023-03-20T03:00:00.003-07:002023-05-01T13:23:15.513-07:00Thanks for Bris Milah (2 of 8)<p><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I wrote an article for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1958542156?linkCode=sl1&tag=shikeypress-20&linkId=ae63ed140f5d623d12fe45e876f3203c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;">this book</a> about Bris Milah, on the subject of 8 reasons for our having gratitude for this Mitzvah. This is the second part of this series of sharing this article here.</i></p><p><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2023/03/thanks-for-bris-milah-1-of-8.html"> See part 1 here</a></p><p>Another reason for gratitude is because Milah lifts us out of a status of being Arelim. Yirmiyahu referred to all gentiles as uncircumcised, ki khol hagoyim arelim (9:25). There, in being critical of Israel, Israelites are accused of being of uncircumcised heart: v’khol beis Yisrael Erlei Lev, their bad behavior causing them to be worthy of punishment (Radak). Thus the metaphorical (heart-)foreskin prevents us from getting close to God, when doing the wrong thing. Presumably when we do right, we can never be called or compared to “Arelim.”</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-9537107643110859522023-03-06T12:59:00.002-08:002023-05-01T13:18:25.772-07:00Thanks for Bris Milah (1 of 8)<p><i>I wrote an article for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1958542156?linkCode=sl1&tag=shikeypress-20&linkId=ae63ed140f5d623d12fe45e876f3203c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl">this book</a> about Bris Milah, on the subject of 8 reasons for our having gratitude for this Mitzvah.
Over the next eight posts I will share the article in pieces.</i></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>“Thanks” For Circumcision? Let me count the ways</b></u></div><p></p><p></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;">“[F]or Jews circumcision … is not a detail of hygiene, [but] the seal of the pledge between Abraham and his Creator… The Jews have followed the Mosaic law with a confidence which modern medicine progressively ratifies. The medical endorsement is not, however, the glory of Judaism. <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2012/08/the-footnote.html">It is a footnote</a>.” – Herman Wouk, “This is My God” </blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The celebrated author’s insightful comment about circumcision speaks of the Covenant, but not of the painful experience the child (or the converting adult) undergoes in order to have that “seal of the pledge…” Interestingly, there are at least two expressions of thanks over the act of circumcising. One is the verse “<i>Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov Ki L’Olam Chasdo</i>” – Give thanks to God for He is good, for His kindness endures forever – included in the baby-naming-paragraph recited seconds after the Milah (circumcision). The second is on a more regular basis, in the “thanks” blessing of <i>birkas hamazon</i>, we mention “<i>briskha she’chasamta bivsareinu</i>,” the Covenant You sealed in our flesh. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> While it is reasonable to give thanks for the Covenant, which defines our relationship with God, why note that it is “sealed in our flesh”? Are we thanking God for a painful experience? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In a lengthy discussion addressing the thanks in <i>Birkas Hamazon</i>, R Yochanan Luria (Meshivas Nefesh, Shemot 3) notes Milah’s place in the Israelite experience, especially in contrast to other Bnei Avraham (Eisav and Yishmael) who did or currently circumcise, but don’t get the benefits of the Covenant. One can certainly be thankful for Milah that comes with Covenantal benefits, rather than the alternative which merely fulfills a family tradition without Covenantal benefits.
In a lengthy discussion addressing the thanks in <i>Birkas Hamazon</i>, R Yochanan Luria (Meshivas Nefesh, Shemot 3) notes Milah’s place in the Israelite experience, especially in contrast to other Bnei Avraham (Eisav and Yishmael) who did or currently circumcise, but don’t get the benefits of the Covenant. One can certainly be thankful for Milah that comes with Covenantal benefits, rather than the alternative which merely fulfills a family tradition without Covenantal benefits.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-76629627947670484862023-01-25T10:00:00.001-08:002023-01-25T10:00:26.717-08:00A Thought on Blood of Circumcision as it connects to Parshat Bo<p style="text-align: justify;">There are two positive <i>mitzvos </i>in the Torah that share certain qualities. Aside from being "<i>Mitzvot Asei</i>," both of them are the only <i>mitzvos </i>in the Torah for which if one does not fulfill them, the person’s soul is subject to <i>kareis </i>- a repercussion which has a number of possible definitions, but minimally could mean to be “cut off” from an eternal connection to God (whatever that might mean). Both of them have blood associated with the fulfillment of the <i>mitzvah</i>. Both of them require preparation in advance. One of them cannot be fulfilled without the other one having been fulfilled. (list is not exhaustive) </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> The two <i>mitzvos</i>? <i>Bris Milah</i> (circumcision) and <i>Korban Pesach</i> (the Paschal Lamb). It is noted that absent a <i>Beis HaMikdash</i> we don’t fulfill the <i>Korban Pesach</i>, so some of the connections are less relevant in our time. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Rashi </i>(12:6) quotes verses from <i>Yechezkel </i>16 which describe metaphorically God’s turning Jerusalem into a presentable city, including stating “And I passed by you and saw you downtrodden with your blood, and I said to you, 'With your bloods, live,' and I said to you, 'With your bloods, live.'” Many Midrashim say the plural form of ‘bloods’ indicates that blood of the Paschal lamb and circumcision blood were combined and placed on the doorposts in Egypt to serve as a double protection for the Hebrews during the final plague. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Rashi </i>says the circumcisions in Egypt took place at night, seemingly contradicting the Midrash that the bloods were combined. The instruction for the slaughtering of the lamb and putting the blood on the doorpost is in 12:6-7, making clear that not much time passed between the two actions. People were indoors at night; circumcision blood could not be put on the doorpost! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> The great irony of this is that the idea that an ערל, an uncircumcised male, can’t partake of the <i>Korban Pesach</i>, seems to be an afterthought first mentioned in 12:48, basically the last instruction given to Moshe to tell over to the Israelites. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i> Rabbenu Bachaye</i> writes וזה יכלול שנמולו כלן ועשו את הפסח, which can certainly be understood to mean the two actions were done in that order: first <i>Milah </i>and then slaughtering the <i>Pesach</i>. Which could also lead us to suggest that, rather than an afterthought, the last thing Moshe heard – the instruction for <i>Milah </i>– was freshest in his mind, and therefore what he mentioned first to the Bnei Yisrael. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <i>Rashi’s </i>explanation leaves more questions than answers in light of the halakha based on the verse <b>וביום השמיני </b>ימול בשר ערלתו, that a Bris must take place during daylight hours, from sunrise to sunset, even if done after the 8th day. (Pesachim 4a, Yoma 28b). Comes <i>Rabbenu Bachaye</i> with the save… what do you think?</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-50418018858998087862022-11-10T12:20:00.005-08:002022-11-10T12:41:11.470-08:00Bar Mitzvah Related Thought on Vayera<p> <i>I share this <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2009/11/when-mohels-wife-gives-birth-to-boy.html">13 years after this post</a></i></p><div style="text-align: justify;">The Torah tells us that Avraham made a Big Party (משתה גדול) – ביום הגמל את יצחק. The timeframe is unclear, leaving at least 3 possibilities as to what was being celebrated about Yitzchak: 1. Being weaned from the breast, 2. His Circumcision – this is the Midrashic homily as a play on the word הגמל that ה (5) + ג (3) is the day when he was מל (circumcised), (Pesikta suggests Avraham actually made two parties reflecting those first two possibilities,) (<a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/10/when-to-make-bris-party.html">see also here</a>) 3. When he was weaned from the Yetzer Hara at the age of 13. (Midrash Aggadah) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Of course, if the latter is true, this would be the second time Avraham had an event at a time his son was 13, as Yishmael was circumcised at that age in Chapter 17. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Both of these 13-year-old anecdotes indicate that 13 was a special age for a young man to reach, as it accompanied a heightened level of spiritual maturity. For Yishmael, the ability to accept being circumcised could be viewed more as a choice than something his father forced upon him, and for Yitzchak, being gifted a Yetzer HaTov to counter his Yetzer HaRa demonstrated the greater heights he could achieve with his newfound reality. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The Talmud in Kiddushin reminds us that גדול המצווה ועושה יותר ממי שאינו מצווה ועושה, that someone who is commanded and does has greater merits than someone who does anything strictly on a voluntary basis. Tosafos explain that one who is commanded worries more about doing the wrong thing and possibly violating, whereas the volunteer doesn’t care if something is done imperfectly. Ritva mentions two more reasons: The commanded is fulfilling the will of the king, while the volunteer wasn’t commanded to do anything. The commanded has the Satan who is trying to trip him up and do the wrong thing. Since לפום צערא אגרא, his effort is more rewarded. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Our opening Midrash indicates a weaning from the Yetzer Hara – perhaps it means that Avraham saw Yitzchak had accepted the responsibilities that came with his status of being 13 and had reason to celebrate! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mazal tov!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-10111892303231791182022-10-19T00:22:00.002-07:002022-10-19T13:52:07.730-07:00When to Make the Bris Party?<p> There are plenty of sources for the idea that the celebration for the Bris should take place at the time of the Bris. </p><p>However, I have had the opportunity to preside over brisses where the parents were understandably quite nervous about the whole idea, wanting to give their son undivided attention at the time of the bris, not wanting to "spoil" this incredibly intimate family moment with the challenge of being hosts for a party. </p><p>The Bris, of course, was not delayed, as that is described in the Torah as being the 8th day of life (unless there are medical conditions which cause a delay). But the PARTY isn't Biblical... right? Or is it?</p><p>The source for having a celebration is the verse that Avraham made a big party on the day that הגמל את יצחק. Is that the bris? Is that a weaning? Is that a 'bar mitzvah'? (All of these are possibilities laid out in Midrashim and commentaries.)</p><p>Chasam Sofer writes this: </p><p style="text-align: right;">תורת משה בראשית פרק כא פסוק ח</p><p style="text-align: right;">ועתה כשהי' יצחק בן כ"ד ונגמל מאליו ברי אולם, אז עשה סעודת ברית מילה על יום הגמ"ל את יצחק בנו והיתה סעודת מילתו ביום כ"ד חדש </p><p style="text-align: left;">When Yitzchak weaned himself from his mother at 24 months and was clearly healthy and fully recovered from the Bris, that's when Avraham made the party for the Bris. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I don't know how many people would be interested in waiting 2 years - but this is certainly a novel idea, to wait until the child's second birthday to celebrate his bris!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-78599399642885400742022-08-25T18:38:00.004-07:002022-08-25T18:38:31.564-07:00A Note to Moms<p><i> This note is long overdue. I've written <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2014/03/dear-husband.html">to the husband</a>, to <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2018/09/dear-grandparents.html">the grandparents</a>, and given instructions <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2012/03/fathers-role.html">to the dad</a> (I am well aware that the husband and the dad is the same person - the notes were very different in their message).</i></p><p><i>The new Mom, or the Mom of the new-baby (who might be a veteran Mom), has a day ahead of her with the pending (or recently completed) Bris. So here goes.</i></p><p>Dear New Mom,</p><p style="text-align: justify;">You truly are amazing. You carried this baby inside you, nourished him, and took care of him. He grew inside you as your body essentially created this child, with a lot of help from God, and a little help from that wonderful husband you've got.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And now, you are faced with having your precious little boy circumcised. You'll be taking him out of his zone of comfort, peace, quiet, and bringing him into the mark of the covenant of the Jewish people through an act which seems far less than comforting, peaceful and quiet.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, firstly, I salute you. This may not be very easy for you, but you are going ahead with it anyway.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">While I will meet you for a short period of time, you likely fall into one of the following categories of the moms I've met through the years. Read through them, see which is you, and we'll regroup afterwards.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Put-Together-Mom: The bris will be fine! Nothing to worry about! Baby is in great hands. Every Jewish boy and every Jewish man I know has had a bris. Yes - he will cry. But I am on it! This baby will be loved even more than he was before and I have nothing but confidence that this is what God wants and therefore it is good!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Experienced Mom: I was nervous the first time, but I learned from my previous son's bris that all is going to be OK. Nothing like the school of hard knocks!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Nervous Mom: I don't about this. What if we're doing the wrong thing? Is my baby going to be OK? Won't he cry? Isn't it going to hurt? Maybe we should just get a doctor. I don't know. I just don't know!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Freaking out Mom: I just want to run away with my baby! This is so barbaric! I can't believe we are doing this in the 21st century! How long is this going to take? How do I know my baby will be fine? Can't something go wrong? I don't even know this mohel. He might seem nice, but I am not in a frame of mind to have some stranger man 'splain things to me about my baby!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To put it a different way, there is a woman I have done two brisses for (her other children are girls) and before the second bris she said to me, "Avi, I hate you today. Tomorrow we will be friends again."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is impossible to unravel the nervousness that comes with the prospect of the bris. BUT every woman who was having a difficult time before the bris has had a serious turn of mood for the better once it was over and she saw that her baby was fine. In other words, the woman had gotten herself so worked up about what was going to happen in her own mind, the concept of everything being fine didn't even make it into her scope of possibilities. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is why I encourage you to find out as much about circumcision as you can beforehand, to ask all the questions you can, and to empower yourself with the knowledge you need so that the experience you have through your son's bris will not be debilitating to you.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We have been doing this for thousands of years. Our track record, especially in the age of sterilizing surgical instruments and the amazing bandages we have, has never been better. And if you have done your homework and have discovered that your mohel has an excellent track record of delivering great results plus a pleasing manner, then your nervousness is in your mind.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is not a dismissal of your feelings. This is not accusing you of being emotional. This is not suggesting your concerns are unfounded.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is a thoughtful minder to you to breathe, to be trusting (assuming you're confident in your choice of mohel), and to know that you will feel SO MUCH BETTER WHEN IT IS OVER AND YOU SEE YOUR SON IS FINE.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">May it be the case that all cases of anxiety (in this case quite justified) are so easily remedied by just having the clear cause of our anxiety being over.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I hope you will have found our overall experience together to be a pleasant one, even with the natural tension that accompanied the advent of the bris. And I hope you will come to see that your son is not worse for wear, and that you are grateful that we took care of this so early in his life, so that he, and hopefully you as well, will not remember the difficult portions of this day, and only the happiness that accompanied the <i>simcha</i> of the bris, and your joy at participating, along with your husband, in fulfilling this mitzvah.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">With honor and respect</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Avi Billet</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-81637305635776559482022-08-11T10:59:00.001-07:002022-08-11T11:07:37.888-07:00An Interpretation of a Mysterious Tale - Related to a Circumcision in the Torah<p> In his Meshivas Nefesh on Shemos chapter 3, Rabbi Yochanan Luria has a lengthy piece on various topics related to Bris Milah. One short paragraph aims to give a little clarity to a mysterious tale in the Torah, when Moshe and Zipporah are on their way to Egypt shortly after the burning bush story, and something happens and someone almost dies, and the tragedy is averted when Zipporah circumcises her son. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the common interpretations of the story is that Moshe almost died, having been mostly consumed by an angel (or angels) in a serpent-like fashion. Zipporah says two things after she circumcises her son, in verses 25-26 below (taken from Chabad.org)</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="Co_TanachTable" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="box-sizing: inherit;"><tr class="Co_Verse" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 564.56px;" valign="top"><a class="co_VerseNum" href="https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9865#v24" id="v24" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: sbl_hebrew, "arial hebrew", arial; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 700; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px;">24</a><span class="co_VerseText" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">Now he was on the way, in an inn, that the Lord met him and sought to put him to death.</span></td><td class="Co_Spacer" style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 10px;"> </td><td class="hebrew" style="box-sizing: inherit; direction: rtl; font-family: sbl_hebrew, "arial hebrew", arial; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 376.548px;" valign="top"><a class="co_VerseNum" href="https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9865#v24" id="v24" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 700; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; text-decoration-line: none;">כד</a><span class="co_VerseText" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.8;">וַיְהִ֥י בַדֶּ֖רֶךְ בַּמָּל֑וֹן וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֣הוּ ה' וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ הֲמִיתֽוֹ:</span></td></tr><tr class="Co_Verse" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 564.56px;" valign="top"><a id="v11310" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;"></a><a class="co_VerseNum" href="https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9865#v25" id="v25" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: sbl_hebrew, "arial hebrew", arial; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 700; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">25</a><span class="co_VerseText" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">So Zipporah took a sharp stone and severed her son's foreskin and cast it to his feet, and she said, <b>"For you are a bridegroom of blood to me."</b></span></td><td class="Co_Spacer" style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 10px;"> </td><td class="hebrew" style="box-sizing: inherit; direction: rtl; font-family: sbl_hebrew, "arial hebrew", arial; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 376.548px;" valign="top"><a class="co_VerseNum" href="https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9865#v25" id="v25" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 700; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; text-decoration-line: none;">כה</a><span class="co_VerseText" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.8;">וַתִּקַּ֨ח צִפֹּרָ֜ה צֹ֗ר וַתִּכְרֹת֙ אֶת־עָרְלַ֣ת בְּנָ֔הּ וַתַּגַּ֖ע לְרַגְלָ֑יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר <b>כִּ֧י חֲתַן־דָּמִ֛ים אַתָּ֖ה לִֽי:</b></span></td></tr><tr class="Co_Verse" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 564.56px;" valign="top"><a id="v11311" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;"></a><a class="co_VerseNum" href="https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9865#v26" id="v26" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: sbl_hebrew, "arial hebrew", arial; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 700; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">26</a><span class="co_VerseText" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5;">So He released him. Then she said, <b>"A bridegroom of blood concerning the circumcision."</b></span></td><td class="Co_Spacer" style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 10px;"> </td><td class="hebrew" style="box-sizing: inherit; direction: rtl; font-family: sbl_hebrew, "arial hebrew", arial; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 376.548px;" valign="top"><a class="co_VerseNum" href="https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9865#v26" id="v26" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 700; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; text-decoration-line: none;">כו</a><span class="co_VerseText" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.8;">וַיִּ֖רֶף מִמֶּ֑נּוּ אָ֚ז אָֽמְרָ֔ה <b>חֲתַ֥ן דָּמִ֖ים לַמּוּלֹֽת:</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Her two statements (in bold in the preceding text) are quite mysterious. The following is a summary and partial loose-translation of Rabbi Luria's explanation of this text .</div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Zipporah saw that <i>Gehinnom </i>has no dominion over Milah, when Moshe
Rabbenu was consumed by angels trying to kill him over delaying his son’s
circumcision (Rashi 4:24, Nedarim 32a), but the angel stopped at the <i>Makom HaMilah</i>. Zipporah thought Moshe was to die for
having violated the prohibition against a circumcised man having relations with
an <i>Aramis </i>(herself) for which the punishment is death. However, when she
realized that the angels left his <i>Milah</i> untouched, she realized the
solution to the problem was to circumcise her son. </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When she said “<i>Chasan Damim Ata Li</i>” it is understood that
she meant “You are a groom whose blood is at risk on account of me!”, as Rabbi
Luria puts it “he is being punished for having had relations with an <i>Aramis.</i>”
As Targum puts it “Because of the blood of <i>Milah</i> (that he underwent) the rule
is that my groom should never have married me.” But when she saw that <i>Milah</i> was
so significant, she circumcised her son, causing the angel to withdraw. Then
she said “A groom of blood to circumcisions” after she understood that the punishment
coming to her husband was due to having delayed his son’s circumcision, and not because of his relationship with her.</p></div></blockquote><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p dir="RTL" style="background: white; direction: rtl; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="HE" style="font-size: 14pt;">וראה
שאין גיהנם שולט במילה שהרי במרע"ה שבלעו מלאך המות מראשו ועד ירכו ומרגליו עד
אותו המקום ולא היה [יכול] לשלוט במילה אז היתה סבורה ציפורה שבעלה<b> הוא חייב מיתה על
שנימול ובועל ארמית</b> ולא מפני שנתעצל (במצות) בנו ואבר זה ניצול מפני חשיבות המילה להציל
את בנה מדינה של גיהנם ומלה אותו ולא על דרך שידעה שבעלה נענש על ככה, שהרי אמרה <b>חתן
דמים אתה לי</b> ומתרגמינן שכוונתה שהוא נענש על ככה שבעל ארמית, ע"כ תרגום <b>בדמא מהולתא
הדין מתחייב חתנא לנא</b> פי' מפני שנימול לא היה לו לישא ארמיתא ומשראתה חשיבות המילה
מלתה את בנה, <b>וירף ממנה אז אמרה חתן דמים למולות</b>, אז הבינה שנענש על שנתעצל במילת בנו
וע"כ תרגם שבשבילו הוא נענש.</span><span dir="LTR" face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-36277906933697632042022-07-17T07:20:00.004-07:002023-06-29T14:25:26.251-07:00Defining Terms: Ba'al Bris<div><p>Defining Terms Series</p><p></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2020/12/defining-terms-bris-milah.html">Bris Milah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/03/defining-terms-kibbudim.html">Kibbudim</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/06/defining-terms-milah-upriah.html">Milah U'Priah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-kisei-shel-eliyahu.html">Kisei Shel Eliyahu</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-bris.html">Bris</a> (similar to Bris Milah)</li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-milah-and-mohel.html">Milah and Mohel</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-baal-bris.html">Baal Bris</a></li></ul><p></p><p><u><b>BA'AL BRIS</b></u></p></div>There are 3 people who are defined as a Ba'al Bris - the "master of the covenant" - on the day of the Bris Milah. They are: The baby's father, the <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2010/06/sandak.html">Sandak</a>, and the <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2009/09/mohel-moyel-moyl-moyle-moil-moiel.html">Mohel</a>. <div><br /></div><div>Here are a few interesting sources related to these ideas: </div><div>The first is the Darchei Moshe on the Tur (Rabbi Moshe Isserlis), who quotes the Or Zarua that "[the ather] should seek out a good Jew to be the <i>Baal Bris</i>, in order that Eliyahu will come and sit next to him" - clearly in this case the "Ba'al Bris" is the Sandak, who holds the baby during the bris and has a chair designated for Eliyahu set up right next to him. He continues, "And he should also seek out a Mohel who is a good Jew. The Mordechai writes... in the name of Muhr"m that in assigning the Mitzvah to the mohel and the Baal Bris, ideally he should not reneg, but if he does, it is a [valid] reneg.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b><u>דרכי משה הקצר יורה דעה סימן רסד</u></b></div><div style="text-align: right;">(ג) כתב באור זרוע (שם סי' קז) צריך לחפש אחר יהודי טוב להיות בעל ברית כדי שיבוא אליהו וישב אצלו וצריך לחפש אחר המוהל שיהא יהודי טוב. כתב המרדכי ס"פ כל הגט בשם מוהר"ם בנתינת המצוה דמוהל ובעל ברית דלכתחלה לא יחזור ומיהו אם חזר הוי חזרה עכ"ל: </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next example is also from Darchei Moshe, in the Siman which follows the previous, in which the term Ba'al Bris is again used to describe the Sandak. I won't translate the whole passage, but here is a summary of the relevant points. </div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Some people want to be Baal Bris - to hold the baby during the circumcision - to fulfill the verse of "all my limbs should speak" (Tehillim 35:10), based on the teaching of King David</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Sandak has more "power to him" than the Mohel, and should be prioritized for an Aliyah to the Torah before the Mohel, because his lap is as if it is an altar (Mizbeach) upon which Ketores are being offered. [This is why Rabbenu Peretz was of the view that no one should be a Sandak for siblings]</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. A woman can be a Baalas Bris (feminine form of the term) by bringing the baby until the entrance of the synagogue, but she can't hold the baby on her lap because it is considered immodest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Interestingly, this 3rd point demonstrates that the Kvatter might also be referred to as a Baal Bris, because Rama goes on to quote Mahari'l who said that a man could be a Baal Bris all by himself, to bring the baby to the circumcision, though if he has a wife she can assist her husband. This point is disputed in the Mishnah Berurah quoted next</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b><u>דרכי משה הקצר יורה דעה סימן רסה</u></b></div><div style="text-align: right;">וכתב עוד בהגהת מיימוני סוף פ"ג דמילה (אות ה) מה שמתאוים לאחוז התינוק על הברכים בשעה שנימול ולהיות <b>בעל ברית</b> יש לזה סמך ממדרש שוחר טוב (ילקוט תהלים סי' תשכג) בפסוק כל עצמותי תאמרנה (תהלים לה י) אמר דוד אני משבח בכל עצמותי ברכי אני עושה בהן סנדקים לילדים בשעת המילה עכ"ל וכן כתב באור זרוע (הל' מילה סי' קז). כתב מהרי"ל (שם סו א) כשהיה סנדק היה טובל עצמו להיות נקי להכניס הילד בנקיות לברית עכ"ל וחומרא בעלמא הוא ואין נוהגין כן. עוד כתב מהרי"ל (שם) דיפה כח הסנדק מהמוהל (לקראת) [לקרות] בתורה קודם המוהל דהסנדק המחזיק הילד על ברכיו הוי כאילו בנה מזבח והעלה עליו קטורת ומטעם זה כתב רבינו פרץ שאין רגילין ליתן ב' ילדים לבעל ברית אחד דכל פעם ופעם צריך לברור לבעל ברית אחר משום דאמרינן (בפ"ק) [בפ"ב] דיומא (כו א) כל כהן שהקטיר פעם אחת לא היה מקטיר פעם שנית מפני שהקטורת מעשרת דכתיב (דברים לג י) ישימו קטורה באפך וכתיב בתריה ברך ה' חילו א"כ כל פעם היה מעשרין בה אחר שלא הקטיר ה"נ ברית שהיא דומה לקטורת עוד שם (סז ב) שכתב מוהר"ם אשה הנעשית בעלת הברית לתינוק תוליכנו עד פתח בית הכנסת ולא תכנס אל תוכו להיות ג"כ סנדק להחזיק התינוק על ברכיה דפריצות הוא בין אנשים. ואמר מהרי"ל דאיש יכול להיות לבד בעל ברית ולהביא התינוק אבל אם יש לו אשה דרך הנשים לסייע לבעליהן וכן עשה מהרי"ל שנעשה סנדק לתינוק בלא אשתו והביא התינוק בעצמו ולא הניח לנשים לאחוז בכנף בגדיו כמנהג שאוחזים כנף האיש הנושא את התינוק</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Other arenas in which the Baal Bris is raised in discussion is as far as his participation exempts him from certain Halakhic and Customary restrictions. For example, if he is in mourning, he can still serve as a Sandak. If it is during Sefirah, he can shave and get a hair cut in advance of experiencing this role. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b><u>שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות פסח סימן תצג</u></b></div><div style="text-align: right;">סעיף ב</div><div style="text-align: right;">* נוהגים שלא להסתפר (ו) עד ל"ג לעומר... הגה: ... ומי שהוא (יב) ד בעל [ז] ברית או מל בנו, מותר (יג) להסתפר בספירה לכבוד המילה. (הגהות מנהגים). </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Above we find the reference to the idea that a Baal bris can get a haircut during Sefirah in honor of the circumcision. The Mishnah Berurah below defines the Baal Bris as the "Sandak, Mohel, and baby's Father, but NOT the Kvatter."</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div><b><u>משנה ברורה סימן תצג ס"ק יב</u></b></div><div>(יב) בעל ברית - היינו הסנדק והמוהל ואבי הבן אף שאינו מוהלו בעצמו (ומ"ש הרמ"א או מל בנו היינו שיש לו בן שצריך למול אותו) אבל לא המוציא והמביא [אחרונים]: </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally we get to the point that is most popular in synagogues around the world, and demonstrates the real reason why everyone is very happy when there is a bris. (This is tongue-in-cheek)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><div><u><b>שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות נשיאת כפים ונפילת אפים סימן קלא</b></u></div><div>סעיף ד</div><div>יד) {ג} נהגו שלא ליפול על פניהם (כ) <ט> ד') לא י [י] ח'] יא] בבית האבל, (כא) <י> טו) ולא יב] בבית החתן, (כב) טז) ג} ולא בבהכ"נ יג] ביום מילה, </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Shulchan Arukh gives us a short list of circumstances that will cause Tachanun to be skipped - in a house of mourning, in the house of a groom, or in a synagogue on the day there is a circumcision (presumably in that synagogue, as we can argue there is a bris EVERY DAY)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And here is the Mishnah Berurah</div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><u><b>משנה ברורה סימן קלא ס"ק כב</b></u></div><div style="text-align: right;">(כב) ולא בביהכ"נ ביום מילה - ר"ל בביהכ"נ שימולו אח"כ בה את התינוק [כא] אף שאין מתפללין שם הבעלי ברית וכתבו האחרונים דאם הבעלי ברית מתפללין שם [ונקראין בעלי ברית [כב] אבי הבן והסנדק והמוהל ולא המוציא והמביא התינוק] אף שהמילה בבית אחר אין נופלין ע"פ: </div><div style="text-align: left;">Tachanun is skipped in a shul in which there will be a circumcision right after [davening], even if the Baalei Bris are not davening there. ; The Acharonim wrote that if the Baalei Bris ARE davening there [Those who are referred to as Baalei Bris are the father, the Sandak, and the Mohel, and not the Kvatters - who bring the baby in and bring him out], even if the circumcision will take place elsewhere [, their presence at the minyan causes the people to] skip Tachanun.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From experience I have seen that skipping Tachanun brings a tremendous amount of joy. People just LOVE the Baalei Bris!!</div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-48574793727443079232022-07-10T06:00:00.004-07:002023-06-29T14:25:07.935-07:00Defining Terms: Milah and Mohel<p>Defining Terms Series</p><p></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2020/12/defining-terms-bris-milah.html">Bris Milah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/03/defining-terms-kibbudim.html">Kibbudim</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/06/defining-terms-milah-upriah.html">Milah U'Priah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-kisei-shel-eliyahu.html">Kisei Shel Eliyahu</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-bris.html">Bris</a> (similar to Bris Milah)</li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-milah-and-mohel.html">Milah and Mohel</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-baal-bris.html">Baal Bris</a></li></ul><p><u><b>MILAH AND MOHEL</b></u></p><p></p><p>In light of the <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-bris.html">previous post</a>, in which we learned what "<a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-bris.html">Bris</a>" means, this one should be really easy.</p><p>Milah (מילה) in our context refers to <u><b>circumcision</b></u>. </p><p>This is why the operator is called a Mohel (מוהל), as in "one who does Milah (one who circumcises)."</p><p><br /></p><p>(In a different context, the word מילה literally means a "word," as in "don't say another מילה?" "Will you let me get a מילה in response?!")</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-22604376164873547752022-07-06T09:42:00.004-07:002023-06-29T14:24:49.078-07:00Defining Terms: Bris<p>Defining Terms Series</p><p></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2020/12/defining-terms-bris-milah.html">Bris Milah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/03/defining-terms-kibbudim.html">Kibbudim</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/06/defining-terms-milah-upriah.html">Milah U'Priah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-kisei-shel-eliyahu.html">Kisei Shel Eliyahu</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-bris.html">Bris</a> (similar to Bris Milah)</li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-milah-and-mohel.html">Milah and Mohel</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-baal-bris.html">Baal Bris</a></li></ul><p><u><b>BRIS</b></u></p><p></p><p> Bris - ברית - means covenant or agreement. </p><p>When we say we are "going to a Bris" we are speaking in American-ish, but we are not using the term correctly.</p><p>Whether we mean to say we are going to a circumcision (which is technically true), what we really mean is that "we are going to a <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2020/12/defining-terms-bris-milah.html">Bris Milah</a> Ceremony, a ceremony in which the Covenant made over Circumcision will be reenacted and reaffirmed."</p><p>Of course no one wants to say that, so we just say we are "going to a Bris."</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>But just as you can't go to a covenant, you can't go to a Bris. </p><p>You will be attending a Milah (circumcision) that affirms the Bris. </p><p>What is being affirmed is the Bris Milah - the covenant over circumcision.</p><p><br /></p><p>Having said all that... see you at the Bris! (Now at least you know what I mean!)</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-50978985516467774802022-07-03T07:00:00.006-07:002023-06-29T14:24:31.685-07:00Defining Terms - Kisei Shel Eliyahu<p>Defining Terms Series</p><p></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2020/12/defining-terms-bris-milah.html">Bris Milah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/03/defining-terms-kibbudim.html">Kibbudim</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/06/defining-terms-milah-upriah.html">Milah U'Priah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-kisei-shel-eliyahu.html">Kisei Shel Eliyahu</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-bris.html">Bris</a> (similar to Bris Milah)</li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-milah-and-mohel.html">Milah and Mohel</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-baal-bris.html">Baal Bris</a></li></ul><p></p><p><u><b>KISEI SHEL ELIYAHU</b></u> </p><p>One element of the Bris ceremony includes the baby being placed on a chair that is designated as the Kisei Shel Eliyahu.</p><p>The term simply translates to "The Chair of Elijah" and is our way of giving homage to one of the staunchest defenders of the concept of the Covenant (Bris) in the Bible, <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2011/01/elijah-prophet.html">Elijah the Prophet</a>, a.k.a. Eliyahu HaNavi.</p><p>I am often asked whether this is a "respectable honor" to give to someone.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Of course the answer is YES. What "honor" is <i>not</i> respectable?</p><p>The role is simply placing the baby on a chair, and if not divided with another person, also includes taking the baby off the chair and giving him back to his father. In that sense, I guess the honor is in the eye of the beholder, because the honoree doesn't seem to be doing very much.</p><p>However, if one values Eliyahu HaNavi's presence at a bris, and one values the opportunity to be as "close" to him as possible, in the way such an honor provides, then it is a great honor indeed!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-65071022013565414852022-06-28T15:08:00.004-07:002023-06-29T14:24:12.640-07:00Defining Terms - Milah U'Priah<p>Defining Terms Series</p><p></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2020/12/defining-terms-bris-milah.html">Bris Milah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/03/defining-terms-kibbudim.html">Kibbudim</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/06/defining-terms-milah-upriah.html">Milah U'Priah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-kisei-shel-eliyahu.html">Kisei Shel Eliyahu</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-bris.html">Bris</a> (similar to Bris Milah)</li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-milah-and-mohel.html">Milah and Mohel</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-baal-bris.html">Baal Bris</a></li></ul><p></p><p><u><b>MILAH U'PRIAH</b></u> </p><p>The first two stages of a "Kosher" Bris include the removal of the foreskin and the removal of a mucosal membrane which is present directly below the foreskin. </p><p>Milah is the act of circumcision, which specifically targets the <b>skin</b> of the foreskin. </p><p>Priah (uncovering) is the act of the removal of the membrane. </p><p>While Milah is virtually done the same way by most practitioners, i.e. with a knife (though see below), Priah is done differently by varied practitioners, because some aim for what's called "<a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2012/03/milah-upriah-bvas-achas.html">Milah U'Priah B'vas Achas</a>" (essentially doing both actions in one action), while others aim to make them separate actions. (see below as well)</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>It is important to note that for all practitioners, the amount of foreskin removed ends up being determined by a number of factors. They include: the baby's unique anatomy (some have a larger shaft, some a smaller shaft, some a larger glans, some a smaller glans, some are born with partial foreskin or even with no foreskin!), the mohel's estimate, the heat of the moment. </p><p>Due to the first issue (unique anatomy), and concerns over the third issue (heat of the moment), <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2011/08/magic-of-marker.html">I use a marker in my estimation</a> (second issue) to properly give the time to make sure the assessment of the estimate is accurate, and also to alleviate the possibility of estimating incorrectly in "the heat of the moment." A general principle to follow is (counterintuitively), the longer the shaft the less foreskin, the shorter the shaft, the more foreskin. [Though it is important to remember that ultimately every baby is different and hopefully the mohel is guided by Hashem and with common sense and training to get the right amount.]</p><p>With respect to the membrane, if it is removed with the removal of the foreskin, that element of the bris is complete as well. If it is not removed at that time, then what follows is the mohel following his tradition, in one of the following options:</p><p>1. Tearing and folding back the membrane</p><p>2. Removing the membrane with scissors or the "milah knife."</p><p>Sometimes the removal of the membrane is necessary for halakhic reasons, sometimes for aesthetic reasons.</p><p>No matter how the mission is accomplished, the hope is that all should look nice and should heal beautifully. May it be so every time!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184356987071638281.post-11636194705721097702022-03-01T12:17:00.004-08:002023-06-29T14:23:41.692-07:00Defining Terms - Kibbudim<p>Defining Terms Series</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2020/12/defining-terms-bris-milah.html">Bris Milah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/03/defining-terms-kibbudim.html">Kibbudim</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/06/defining-terms-milah-upriah.html">Milah U'Priah</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-kisei-shel-eliyahu.html">Kisei Shel Eliyahu</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-bris.html">Bris</a> (similar to Bris Milah)</li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-milah-and-mohel.html">Milah and Mohel</a></li><li><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-baal-bris.html">Baal Bris</a></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><u><b>KIBBUDIM</b></u> </p><p>Most bris ceremonies include a number of guests present, beyond immediate family. Depending on how many guests, and depending on certain relationships beyond family and even with some rabbis, the ceremony could look very different from family to family in light of whom the parents of the baby might choose to have participate in the ceremony. </p><p>In Hebrew, the word כבוד (<i>kavod</i>)<i> </i>is often translated as "honor," thus the word for the honors given at a bris ceremony is <i>Kibbudim</i>. Those who are given these roles are the "honorees" in a sense, and every person in this category is described as "receiving a <i>kibbud."</i></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>The list of honorees <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2010/05/comprehensive-list-of-honors-at-bris.html">can be found here</a>, while the order of the ceremony and <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/p/ceremony.html">when each honoree participates is described here</a></p><p>People often ask me to rank the <i>kibbudim</i> in their order of importance. This is very difficult to do once we get past the roles of father, <i>mohel</i>, and <i><a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2010/06/sandak.html">sandak</a> - </i>all of whom are defined in Jewish law and custom as "<i>Baalei Bris</i>" - those most involved in the fulfillment of the mizvah. </p><p>Some call the <i>kibbud</i> of holding the baby during the naming the "Standing Sandak" which adds a little pizzazz to a role of holding the baby. In particular if there are thankfully 2 grandfathers who are both present I typically recommend that this role be given to the grandfather who isn't serving as Sandak (the custom is to give the Sandak honor to a grandfather, and to switch for the second son). </p><p>Since in the Ashkenaz community it is uncommon to have a family repeat Sandaks for their subsequent sons, once the grandfathers have had the honor, additional sons tend to have different Sandaks who are relatives or friends of the parents. </p><p>After these two roles, every other <i>kibbud</i> consists of holding the baby for a brief period of time and can therefore be given to anyone (there are different views regarding <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2011/11/including-women-in-ceremony.html">women having roles</a> beyond the <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2009/12/what-is-kvatter.html"><i>kvatter</i> </a>and there is certainly a distinction to be made between a private home and, when doing the bris in a synagogue, respecting the rules of the particular establishment). Even within this realm of possibilities, some will certainly put more stock in <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.cohttp://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2011/01/elijah-prophet.html">a role connected to <i>Eliyahu Hanavi</i></a> (See also here:<a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2022/07/defining-terms-kisei-shel-eliyahu.html"> Defining "Kisei Eliyahu"</a>, versus even saying the <i>brachot</i>/blessings after the circumcision is completed.</p><p>Some put a lot of stock in the honor of naming the baby, which is why the role is often given to the family's rabbi.</p><p>Get your <i>kibbudim </i>planned and you're just about ready for your <a href="http://www.mohelinsouthflorida.com/2020/12/defining-terms-bris-milah.html">Bris Milah Ceremony!</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0