Laws of Bris Milah
Although every Jewish male will recieve a Bris Milah, the laws of Bris Milah are less known to the general public. Here, we will highlight several Halachos/Laws that are a little more obscure:
1. Only a Jewish Male Can Perform the Bris
Jewish law is clear that a bris milah — the covenantal circumcision given to Jewish boys — must be performed by someone who is themselves part of that covenant, hence only a jewish male. The Gemara (Avodah Zarah 27a) derives this from the verse, “וְאַתָּה אֶת־בְּרִיתִי תִשְׁמֹר” — “You shall keep My covenant” (Bereishis 17:9), understood to mean that only members of the covenant (i.e., Jews) are entrusted with carrying it out.
The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De’ah 264:1) codifies that a non-Jew is invalid to serve as the mohel. Even if the father of the child appoints a non-Jew to perform the circumcision, the act does not fulfill the mitzvah, as emphasized by the Rema (ibid.). The Rambam (Hilchos Milah 2:1) and the Tur likewise rule that if a non-Jew performs the circumcision, hatafas dam bris (drawing a symbolic drop of blood) must be done afterward to properly establish the covenant.
This requirement is not merely technical — it reflects the deeper spiritual nature of the mitzvah. The bris is both a physical act and a sacred ritual linking the child to the Jewish people and its relationship with Hashem. Having a mohel who is a Jew underscores that connection, ensuring the act is performed by one who is already bound by the same covenant being entered into.
2. The Father’s Mitzvah to Perform the Bris
The Torah commands the father of a Jewish boy — the avi haben — to ensure that his son is circumcised on the eighth day. Ideally, the father himself would perform the circumcision, as it is his personal mitzvah.
“And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.” (Bereishis 21:4)
However, most fathers today do not have the surgical skill or halachic training to perform a bris themselves. In such cases, the father appoints a mohel — an expert in the laws and techniques of bris milah — to serve as his agent (shaliach). The mohel then performs the mitzvah on behalf of the father, with the father’s consent and in his presence.
This delegation is recognized in halacha and is explicitly discussed in the Talmud:
-
Kiddushin 29a – The obligation falls on the father, but he may appoint another.
-
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 260:1 – The father is commanded; if he cannot do it, he should appoint a qualified mohel.
The father’s active participation — even if only through appointing the mohel — ensures that the bris is not merely a medical procedure, but a fulfillment of a sacred covenant.
3. The Mohel Recites a Special Blessing Before the Cut
Before performing the bris milah, the mohel recites the berachah:
"Baruch Atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha'olam asher kideshanu b’mitzvosav v’tzivanu al ha’milah" – “Blessed are You, Hashem… Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us regarding the circumcision.”
This blessing is said immediately before the act of circumcision, similar to other mitzvos that have a preparatory blessing. Right afterward, the father of the baby recites his own blessing:
"Baruch Atah Hashem… l’hachniso bivriso shel Avraham Avinu" – “…to bring him into the covenant of our forefather Avraham.”
Key Sources:
-
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 265:1–2 – Details on the blessings and who says them.
-
Mishnah Berurah, Orach Chaim 25:15 – General rule of making blessings before performing a mitzvah.
This moment is both halachically significant and emotionally moving, as it formalizes the mitzvah and the spiritual covenant taking place.
4. Delaying a Bris for the Baby’s Health
While the Torah commands performing a bris on the eighth day (Vayikra 12:3), Jewish law is equally emphatic that the baby’s health comes first. If there is any concern that the infant may be unwell—whether due to jaundice, infection, or even something as minor as lingering weakness from birth—the bris is postponed until a doctor (or in halacha, an expert mohel) confirms the child is completely healthy.
The Talmud (Shabbos 137b) teaches:
“We delay the circumcision for a sick child until he becomes well, for the Torah’s ways are ways of pleasantness, not danger.”
Halacha requires waiting a full seven days after the baby is declared healthy before performing the bris in certain types of illness (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 262:2). This safeguard reflects the Torah’s principle that preserving life (pikuach nefesh) overrides almost every other commandment.
5. The Custom of the “Sandek” – Holding the Baby During the Bris
One of the most honored roles in Jewish tradition is serving as the sandek – the person who holds the baby on their lap during the actual circumcision. This role is considered so spiritually significant that the Zohar (Parshas Lech Lecha) compares it to offering ketores (incense) in the Beis HaMikdash.
Many communities treat the sandek honor as something rarely given to the same person more than once within a family, reflecting its elevated status. In some traditions, the sandek is viewed as bestowing spiritual merit on the child and his family.
Halachic Note: While halacha does not require a sandek, the position is a minhag Yisrael (Jewish custom) with centuries of history. The mohel will usually position the sandek comfortably and ensure the baby is supported and stable throughout the procedure (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 265:9).
Once you’ve chosen the perfect Hebrew name for your baby boy, the next step is planning his bris. Visit RabbiMohel.com for professional, precise, and caring bris services across NJ, NY, PA, and CT.