The Ceremony

The Procedure

The mucous membrane, underlying membrane is probed away from the glans. I determine the amount of foreskin to be removed and place a shield in the correct place to protect the glans. The mucous membrane, priah and foreskin, orlah are cut with one sweep along the shield. Lastly, blood is drawn, metzitzah, a therapeutic prescription from the Talmudic period is performed. A sterile dressing with topical anesthetic is applied. When performed by a competent mohel the entire procedure, which flows as one continuous motion, takes less than a minute to perform. The excised foreskin is buried in the earth..

Customs

The baby is brought into the room by the k'vater(in). Explanations are offered in honor of the Bris. The baby is placed in the chair of Elijah. The baby is then held in the lap of the sandek where the Bris is performed. Immediately before the circumcision is performed I recite my b'racha (blessing). After the Bris is performed the father recites his b'racha. If the father has difficulty reading Hebrew he may recite his b'racha verbatim with me. The translation of the father's b'racha is, Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to bring him into the covenant of Abraham, our father. The baby is then held by the sandek me'umad. With kiddush cup in hand, I or another honored guest will recite the next two blessings. The first blessing is over the wine. The second blessing praises G-d, "who established the covenant with His people Israel." Finally a prayer for the welfare of the child is said during which his Hebrew name is formally announced. The child is then given a taste of wine.

Honors to Bestow

The Kvaterin, The Sandek, The Sandek Meumad

Kvaterin (couple / person who enters with baby)

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(If possible, I personally like to honor the (great) grandmothers first. You may have more than one couple / person. The last person places the baby on the Chair of Eliyahu.)

Kisei Shel Eliyahu (male(s) who places baby on Chair of Elijah)

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(You may honor someone to take the baby from the Chair of Eliyahu. Then the father hands the baby to the Sandek.)

Sandek (This is the male who holds baby during bris.)

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(If possible, I think it is appropriate to honor a (great) grandfather for this honor.)

Sandek Meumad (male who holds baby during the naming ceremony)

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(Once again, if possible, the other grandfather holds the baby.)

Baby's Hebrew / English name will be

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Parents Hebrew /English names

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Prayers you may incorporate

Honoree #1:May the newborn child be an auspicious sign, may he grow and develop like a flourishing garden, may he soar, succeed and be spared misfortune. Blessed are you, the community of my faithful, and blessed is he who comes in the name of Hashem.

Honoree #2:May the lot granted us be pleasant, and in his days may we ascend to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple, to the house of Hashem old and young. Blessed are you, the community of my faithful, and blessed is he who comes in the name of Hashem.

Honoree #3:Remember Your mercy and the covenantal blood, bear in mind Your sheep, the sheep of the remnant. Through the messiah may our enemies abate to nothingness. Please Hashem, send Eliyahu Hanavi. Blessed are you, the community of my faithful, and blessed is he who comes in the name of Hashem.

Honoree #4:This child has merited his bris milah, may his loving parents merit to bring him to the chupah, may the redeeming angel bless him, may he be worthy to behold the pleasantness of Hashem. Blessed are you, the community of my faithful, and blessed is he who comes in the name of Hashem

English prayer many parents read after the ceremony:

Master of the Universe, we thank You for the precious gift of new life, and for the blessing of parenthood, which allows us to share in the miracle of creation. Eternal Creator, we ask Your continued blessing. Grant our child length of days and vigor of body and mind. Endow us an understanding of love, that we may rear our son to manhood imbued with love of Torah and the performance of good deeds. May we be privileged to bring him to the chupah. Amen.