Thinking about or planning a bris (religious circumcision ceremony) for your newborn? Here’s a handy list of things to help you prepare.
A mohel is a person who performs ritual Jewish circumcisions. They are required to have both religious and surgical training and while traditionally they were almost always men, women are now being trained.
It’s normal to be a little nervous about circumcising your son, so learning about the procedure and the mohel can help you feel more comfortable. So, here are some questions to ask as you get ready for your son’s bris.
What is your background and training?
Determine whether the mohel is part of a national mohel organization, and whether he or she has undergone proper training. Certain mohels are also doctors, which some parents prefer. Make sure that if your mohel is also a doctor, that he or she has a current medical license and is board certified. In addition, you’ll want to know how many circumcisions your mohel has performed, and how often he or she performs them.
How do you sterilize medical instruments?
Be sure your mohel follows proper medical protocols, including sterilization through autoclave and use of surgical gloves.
Is there any preparation that you perform on the baby? Do you recommend the use of anesthesia?
You’ll want to know if the mohel prepares the baby by using wine, sugar water, or anesthetic cream. There is a debate about the use of topical anesthetic cream in the circumcision world. Some say that it helps babies relax and stay calm because they do not feel the pain as much. Others say that the cream can cause problems, including redness and swelling that make it more difficult to achieve a proper circumcision. Discuss this with your mohel.
Are you comfortable working with interfaith couples? With same-sex couples? With multiracial couples? With adopted children?
Be sure your mohel knows your concerns and addresses them. If you feel uncomfortable, then he or she might not be the mohel for you.
Can you describe the ceremony for me?
Beyond the ritual cut, there is significantly more to the ceremony of brit milah. Your mohel might ask you to talk about the name you’ve chosen for your son, to choose individuals to have different honors during the ceremony, and to think about what your goals are for the ceremony.
What supplies do I need to have for the bris? What, if anything, should I do to prepare my baby for the bris? What kind of after-care will I need to do?
It’s just good to know what you will need to have to take care of your baby before, during and after the bris. That way you can be sure everything has been purchased and is in your home.
What is your fee structure? Do you have references that I can call?
The range in major cities seems to be from $350 and up, and many mohels have a sliding scale. It is always a good idea to speak with references to help figure out if this mohel is the right choice for you. Speak with at least one or two people who have used this mohel in the past.
What if you aren’t available when I schedule my son’s bris?
Since you can’t give a mohel more than eight days of advance notice, it’s hard to guarantee that he or she will be available when you need him or her. Ask your mohel about a back-up plan.
Reprinted from Kveller.com, a website for those who want to add a Jewish twist to their parenting. Kveller is a project of MyJewishLearning.com with support from UJA-Federation of New York.