Rabbi Daniel Hoffman

The Ceremony

Ceremony and Roles

Understanding the brit milah and how to make it meaningful for your family.

More Than a Procedure

First, it is important to note the full title of a bris, which is bris (or brit) milah — the covenant of circumcision. A child is firstly and primarily joining into a relationship with the Jewish People that spans the generations, starting with the first circumcision of Abraham thousands of years ago. We mark that covenant with the circumcision, but the meaning that this holds for our people goes beyond the procedure itself. It is important to think about the connection you want to build for your child with the Jewish People, and I will help you craft a ceremony that creates that tone out of the building blocks of the traditional texts.

The Traditional Ashkenazic Ceremony

If you are Sephardic or would like to adapt the ceremony at all, please discuss with me so that we can make this time meaningful for you and your family.

  1. 1The baby is brought in by members of the family or community.
  2. 2The baby is placed on the seat of Elijah as we pray for him to accompany the baby and the mohel through the ceremony.
  3. 3The baby is then placed in the lap of the sandek as the mohel prepares for the ceremony.
  4. 4The mohel says the first bracha (blessing) and performs the circumcision.
  5. 5The father says the second bracha while the mohel bandages and dresses the baby.
  6. 6The blessing is made over the wine and for gratitude for the child entering the covenant.
  7. 7The child is given his name and blessed.
  8. 8At the end, most parents choose to give a short explanation of the chosen name(s) to their guests.

Roles

The following are some of the traditional roles that can be distributed at the bris, along with best fits for these roles.

Kvater and Kvaterin

Brings the baby into the room, passes him from the mother to the father. Traditionally, this was a couple trying to have children, but today it is often given to any close friends or relatives of the family, often more than 2 individuals.

El Hakise

Places the baby on Elijah's chair (and carefully holds him there!).

Mehakise

Takes the baby from Elijah's chair and brings him to the sandek.

Sandek

This is the most honored role at the bris (other than the baby and parents). This person will hold the baby during the bris itself. Typically this is given to the baby's grandfather (if he hasn't yet had the opportunity), although it can be anyone who can hold the baby gently but firmly while seated. This is the only role that needs someone to be specifically assigned (all others can be performed by the parents and/or the mohel).

Brachot

Makes the blessings after the bris. This should be someone who can read challenging Hebrew quite well, often the family's rabbi if in attendance. If there is no one able, the mohel can fulfill this role. This role can also be split in two to honor more people.

Amida Lebrachot

Holds the baby while the blessings are said. This role is optional as you may prefer to hold your own child during this time.