Taking Decor to a Whole New Level

In my time as a mohel, I have worked with over a thousand people. In all this time, I have worked at brisses on every point on the extremity line.

The smallest event was attended by three people. It was in a tiny apartment, with people who did not want anyone present beyond the baby's parents and the sandak.

I am debating in my mind which of a few events qualify as the biggest event. Should I consider the one with seven hundred guests the biggest? How about the Independence Day triplets (all boys)? Perhaps the one in a Jewish Center of a wealthy community, which had bounce-houses, a magic show, and other events for the children while the adults had an endless supply of Kosher Chinese food?

I guess everything is relative.

UNTIL NOW

I have NEVER seen anything like this before. The Jewish Hostess... I don't know what to say!

Let's try this - the standing lollypops are made up of flowers.


No. I was not the mohel at this event.

But if anyone would like me to be a mohel at a similar event, my phone number is 516 850 9694. Call whenever you like.

Typical Bris Set Up

The setup at a bris varies from mohel to mohel, and from tradition to tradition.

Standard Ashkenazic

In most Ashkenazic brisses (where the husbands family is of Eastern European or Russian descent), the setup will consist of two chairs and a table. Good lighting is always appreciated.

Depending on the mohel's preference, the table will be on either the left or the right of the chairs.

One chair is used by the sandak, who holds the baby during the actual circumcision.

The second chair will be demarcated as the chair of Elijah the Prophet. There is a widely observed custom to set aside a chair for Elijah the Prophet to bear witness to the ceremony, much as we set aside a cup for him at the Passover Seder.

[See other examples of this chair here]
Standard Sefardic
Those who descend from Spanish Jewry, North African and Middle Eastern lands will usually have the table and the Elijah Chair, and will use the Elijah chair twice - first to put the baby on Elijah the Prophet's "lap," and then for the sandak to hold the baby during the bris.
Additional Items
Some have the custom to light candles.
Some set up a dish with dirt in it, so the excised foreskin may be placed in it - a prelude to its being buried shortly after the ceremony.
Modern Ideas
In different circles (mostly non-Orthodox), where many mohels happen to be physicians and are more used to babies being "out of commission," a circumstraint might be used to contain the baby's movements.

I don't recommend this device.
Others opt to have the baby held on a table for the procedure.
Finally, it is recommended to put a tablecloth on the table and a wastebasket under the table in case there is a need to dispose of any waste-filled diapers, sterile packagings, or used bandages.