A Mohel in South Florida

There are many cities in Florida that do not have a local mohel. There may be some people who will opt to have a physician play the role on the traditional eighth day, and there are some who will bypass tradition opting for a hospital circumcision in the hospital on day 1 or day 2 of their baby's life. [I don't recommend this path because I believe that a bris milah is incomplete unless it is done by the right person on the eighth day - or afterwards, if delayed for medical reasons.] If a person chooses this latter method, the procedure described here Hatafat Dam Brit, would be needed to turn the circ into a bris.

For those who are looking for the traditional method, a bris done with a mohel, the difficulty comes in finding the right person for your needs, as well as someone willing to travel. 

These are the things that make me - and therefore your bris experience - different than with a different mohel.

The travel expenses are sometimes the biggest deterrent for people contemplating the traditional route. But if you think of bringing in a mohel as a one-time expense which, in most cases, doesn't repeat itself for at least two or three years (if not more, if there's a girl somewhere in the mix), then it becomes a little easier to stomach.

So whether you are looking for a mohel, moyle, moil, moyel, in Naples, in Fort (Ft.) Myers, in Sarasota, in Tampa, in Western Florida, or in Kendall, in Miami, in North Miami, in North Miami Beach, in Ft. Lauderdale, in Hollywood, in Boca Raton, in Delray Beach, in Pompano Beach, in Plantation, in Cooper City, in Palm Beach, in West Palm Beach, in Boynton Beach, in Aventura, in Weston, in Pembroke Pines, in Margate, in Deerfield Beach, in Lake Worth, or in Wellington (not to mention Jupiter, Stuart, Port St Lucie, or Orlando) - or even Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee or Pensacola, to which I am accessible by plane, be in touch! I'd be honored to join your family for the bris of your son!

CONTACT INFORMATION

Bris in Puerto Rico

Living in Florida has its perks.

I went to Puerto Rico last wednesday for a bris, traveling with some members of the baby's family - we really had a nice time. I am sure that were I still living in NY I would not have been tapped to serve as mohel in PR the few times I have been there. I have been warmly embraced and treated royally by those who have brought me there, and I so appreciate, as I have been told over and over, that "I have a home in Puerto Rico, should I ever want to visit."

Thank you M and G. I cherish your trust and friendship.

The Importance of Trust

Time and time again I get calls from people who have used the services of a different mohel, who ask me questions they don't want to ask their mohel, after the fact.

I am happy to help however I can.

But the obvious question becomes, "Why did you not ask these questions before?"

And the follow-up, "Why aren't you comfortable asking these questions to your mohel?"

The excuses are what they are, but they usually boil down to a few points:
"He isn't open enough."
"He says a lot but does not really leave us open to asking questions."
"He seems to not be aware of what we're going through."

These are very unfortunate cases. Would you ever go to a doctor who you felt you couldn't talk to after he operated on you? I hope not!

It is important to trust your mohel, and to be able to have a frank and open conversation about the process. What happens, what happened, and what needs to be done to give the baby the "thumbs-up" and "clear" and "good to go" symbols...

When you call me, this is the service you get. We talk a few days before the bris (when it is possible, I will come and meet you and your son a few days before the bris as well), we talk the day of the bris, before the bris, after the bris (while the baby is being cared for), and later on when I come visit him to remove the bandage and to make sure all is good.

I call a few days later to see how all is going. I am always available by phone, and am happy to come take a look to assure you all is good (post-bris) if I can help reassure you in any way.


[Though if I am a distance away, I have found that sending me a photo through the phone works just as well!]



You are always in the loop, always in the know, you are always aware of what is going on or has gone on with your baby.

Give a call - be in touch - I look forward to meeting you.

The Traveling Mohel

Welcome to my blog about bris/t milah, and about being a mohel!

I hope you find the content of the blog informative and helpful in the research you are doing to find the right mohel for your son.

This entry is more of an advertisement than a traditional "blog" (since when can a blog be categorized as "traditional" anyway? There were no blogs in "Fiddler"!)

Whether you live in a place that has many mohels, or a place that has zero mohels, I invite you to consider engaging my services as your son's mohel, for a number of reasons:

1. I will speak with you about every aspect of the bris: logistics, details, family sensitivities, etc., to make sure you are 100% comfortable and emotionally prepared for the roller coaster that is the day of the bris. I am available on the phone almost always, and if you leave a message, I will get back to you quickly.

2. I am the world's biggest stickler for creating and maintaining a sterile field and sterile environment for the bris. There is no compromising in making sure the ultimate care is taken to assure nothing negative - such as an infection - will result from the bris.

3. You will not find a more easy-going and time-giving mohel. I make sure you know everything you need to know, and everything you want to know as far as what I am doing or need to do or as far as how to take care of your baby when I am not around.

4. You get full details about how to care for the baby, what you will see, how long things take to heal

5. I check the baby immediately after the bris and a few hours later. The efficiency with which this is done assures your son has the most aesthetically pleasing circumcision, and that he requires the most minimal care on your part by the time my role is finished. You do not have to deal with bandages that are on long term, and you do not have to take off any bandages or deal with any bleeding. This is a full service operation.

6. The cost to you can be within your budget. Because travel expenses vary, I am happy to talk with you to determine what can work. Everything is spelled out here. If you have other local mohel options, we'll have an open conversation about what works for you and me as I am somewhat flexible. If you must fly in a mohel in any case, your options become limited, so we'll have that open conversation as well.

I am quite serious about the offer to travel - even great distances. Check out my other site http://www.travelingmohel.com/

So. Whether you (or someone you know) live(s) in a remote area and need a mohel (recommendations are always appreciated!), or you want a mohel who suits your needs best and most identifies with the Judaism you practice, we should have a conversation. Even if it won't be me, I can help you make sure you find the right person, and give you information that will help you make sure you know "exactly" what is going on, and that you are taking charge of your son's entry into the mark of the covenant.

Mohel in Hollywood (Florida), will travel too

There's a nice ring to being a mohel in Hollywood.

There are a couple of mohels I know of who carry the moniker "Mohel to the Stars." One is in California, and the other is in New York.

But I live in Hollywood, FLORIDA, and other than everyone else's children, the only stars I see on a regular basis are the ones visible in the clear night sky. Which you can't see in New York (I lived there many years) or in smog-filled LA (I'm told). Maybe you can in LA. I don't know.

Though I'm based in Hollywood and don't do too many celebrity brisses, I am ready to travel. Other than the brisses I've done in Florida, I've done brisses in farther places (for an East Coaster) such as Seattle, WA, Omaha, NE, many places in NY, NJ, PA, and CT, as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico. Not to mention the number I've done in Israel.

It's always exciting, always new, always an honor and privilege to serve, and to meet parents going through the birth and bris of their son, so soon after his arrival. It is also amazing to watch, no matter how old or young the parents, no matter how experienced as parents or inexperienced, how the arrival of a new baby (boy or girl) is remarkably a similar experience for all. Joy, elation, disbelief, appreciation for the miracles of God, hope for the future, and anticipation of the rocky yet joyous road ahead.

I've done the brisses of many "first child"s, many "first son"s (after one or more daughters), as well as many siblings (parents who called me again), and, in a few cases, the third or fourth or fifth or sixth son in a family. Some families come from different cities, and some families are looking for a different experience than what they've had in the past.

I look forward to participating in your son's bris when the time comes, and hope you will have a similarly rewarding experience with me, as I know I will have with you.

Even though I don't carry a card which reads "mohel to the stars."