Questions and Answers on Circumcision

Is there a substantive reason to have a circumcision performed by a mohel, rather than a doctor? What about medical concerns?

One of the highest honors at a brit milah (Jewish circumcision) is holding the baby on one’s lap

Although the verse itself does not reveal why we are instructed to circumcise specifically on the eighth day, many possible explanations are offered . . .

When a child is circumcised he is entered into G‑d's covenant with Abraham and his descendants, he joins a chain linking him to the very beginning of our nation.

How should a child be dressed for the circumcision ceremony?

A friend asked the other day why we have a Circumcision. I rambled on about health, tradition, old people, eight days, pain and a whole lot of other nonsense before leaving this one to you.

Is it not barbaric to put my baby through the pain of a medically unnecessary operation?

You keep touting mitzvahs as things G‑d wants us to do. But if that were true, why didn’t He create the universe that way in the first place? If He doesn’t want us eating pork, why did He make it edible?

My rabbi gave me the number of a mohel, an experienced ritual circumciser. We had a wonderful conversation, and he was very helpful; however, when I asked him what the charge was, he told me that I could pay however much I wanted.

It’s the night before my son’s circumcision and I cannot sleep. I know my child is not the first to be circumcised, but I am worried about the lack of anesthesia. Will he feel much pain? Will he be traumatized?

The custom can be traced back to the Zohar, where we read that the sages stayed up learning Torah the night before a circumcision.