By Stan Goodenough
“This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.” (Gen 17:10-13)
Every Jewish baby boy is circumcised during the day on the eighth day of his life (even if this day falls on the Shabbat or Yom Kippur) in a ritual known in Hebrew as the brit milah, “the Covenant of Circumcision”. The circumcision is performed by a mohel, a man trained to carry out the small operation. According to Jewish belief, only circumcisions performed by a mohel can reflect the significance of the eternal covenant between God and Israel.
During the circumcision the father recites this prayer:
“Blessed art Thou, lord our God, King of the universe, who has sancified us with His commandments and commanded us to bring [the child] into the Covenant of our father Abraham.”
In Hebrew it sounds like this:
Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hakhniso bivrito shel Avaraham avinu.
The boy is given his name during the circumcision. (Baby girls are named in synagogue services a week after their birth.)
Circumcision rituals are celebrated with a festive meal.
© Israel My Beloved