Brit Milah: Difference between revisions

# One does not need to eat bread at the meal for the night of the bris, and if one chooses to do so it would not qualify as a seudat mitzva, and thus would not allow for eating meat during the nine days. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Sova Semachot Vol. 2 pg. 8</ref>

# A father is obligated to perform a Brit Milah (circumcision) on his son or to appoint a pious Mohel to do so on his behalf. <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:1, Yalkut Yosef Sova Semachot Vol. 2 pg. 12.  

# The father of the baby should stand near the Mohel (the one who is performing the circumcision) in order to show that the Mohel is his proxy. <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:1</ref>

# The Brit Milah may be performed any time during the day, after [[HaNetz HaChama]], however, one should make an effort to fulfill the mitzvah of Brit Milah early in the morning because of "Zarizin Makdimin LeMitzvot". <ref>Pesachim 4a says that the Brit Milah may be performed any time during the day but those who have alacrity in fulfilling mitzvot will do it early. The gemara learns this concept of Zarizin Makdimin LeMitzvot from Avraham Avinu when he went to perform the Akeda early in the morning. Shulchan Aruch YD 262:1 codifies this as halacha.</ref>

# If one performed the Brit Milah before [[HaNetz HaChama]] after [[Olot HaShachar]] one fulfills one's obligation. <ref>[[Megillah]] 20a, Rama 262:1</ref>  

# If there is a concern of a health risk to the baby, the Brit Milah should be delayed until the baby is healthy. Once the baby is healthy, in the case of some illnesses the Brit Milah should be performed without delay, while in other cases, the Brit Milah is only performed after 8 days after the baby became healthy. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 262:2, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:4</ref> Needless to say, because of the complexity of these issues, it is incumbent for a person to consult an Orthodox Rabbi to assess the situation. For more details about a delayed Milah, see the [[#A Delayed Milah]] section.

# If a baby is born during [[Bein HaShemashot]], since there is a doubt whether it was day or night, the Brit Milah is performed on the ninth day from the baby's birth. <ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 162:4</ref>Because of the complexity involved in practically determining [[Bein HaShemashot]] an Orthodox Rabbi should be consulted.<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:6</ref>

# The father of the baby makes the Bracha "ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם אשר קידשנו במצותיו וציונו להכניסו בבריתו של אברהם אבינו"  (“Baruch Atta Hashem Elokenu Melech HaOlam Asher Kiddeshanu BeMitzvotav VeTzivanu LeHachniso BeBrito Shel Avraham Avinu”) before the Milah <ref> Shulchan Aruch YD 265:1 writes that this Bracha should be made after the cutting of the Orlah before the Periyah, however, Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot vol 2 pg 60) writes that the minhag is to make it before the Milah and the Birchat Hamilah altogether. Yalkut Yosef Milah p. 77 writes that the minhag of Israel, Bavel, and Eastern Sephardi countries is to recite Lhachniso before the Milah. Even though Shulchan Aruch holds like the Rosh (Shabbat 14:10, Teshuva 26:1) that it can be said afterwards, the Rambam (Rav Avraham Ben HaRambam cited by Yabia Omer OC 2:17:7) and Rif (Teshuva 293) hold it should be said beforehand.</ref> This bracha should be said standing. <ref>Rama YD 265:1, Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:7 </ref>

# The Mohel makes the Bracha "ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם אשר קידשנו במצותיו וציונו על המילה" (“Baruch Atta Hashem Elokenu Melech HaOlam Asher Kiddeshanu BeMitzvotav VeTzivanu Al HaMilah”) prior to the Milah.<ref> Shulchan Aruch YD 265:1, Yalkut Yosef 8:4 </ref> The text is the same whether it is the father or the mohel reciting it.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:3</ref> This bracha should be said standing. <ref>Rama YD 265:1, Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:7 </ref>

# Next Hagefen is made on wine and then the bracha of Asher Kidesh Yedid MeBeten. <ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 265:1, Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:18 </ref> The text is אשר קידש ידיד מבטן, אל חי חלקנו צורנו צוה להציל ידידות שארנו משחת.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:19</ref> The one who recited this bracha should taste the wine before the paragraph of "אלוקינו ואלוקי אבותינו קיים את הילד וכו'" and naming the baby.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:20, Yabia Omer 7:23</ref> It is sufficient to taste the wine and not drink a cheekful.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:22</ref>

# The father of the baby should place the baby on the lap of the Sandak. <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:1</ref>

# There are two parts to every Milah, the milah and the priyah. Milah entails cutting the Orlah skin which covers the Atarah and priyah entails peeling back the thin membrane beneath that skin until the Atarah is uncovered. <ref>The Mishna (Shabbat 133a) outlines the 3 stages of milah including milah, priyah, and metsisah. For a discussion of metsisah see further. Rashi s.v. mohalin refers to cutting the orlah skin. Rambam (Milah 2:2) elaborates that the orlah skin is the skin that covers the Atarah. Rashi s.v. veporin writes that priyah is peeling back the membrane covering the tip of the gid. Rambam (Milah 2:2) elaborates the priyah is the membrane underneath the orlah skin. </ref>

# The last stage of milah is metsisah. There is a great controversy whether this is considered a ritual part of the milah procedure or simply a medical practice of the days of the gemara and wouldn't be necessary today. <ref> The Mishna (Shabbat 133a) writes that metsisah is the last stage of milah. The gemara (133b) comments that the reason that is practiced on Shabbat is because if it isn't done there is a critical danger to the baby's life. The Rambam (Milah 2:2) echoes this and says that metsisah is for medical reasons. The Tiferet Yisrael (Boaz Shabbat 19:1) writes that the entire purpose of metsisah is medical and if nowadays it causes a medical danger it doesn't need to be done. See also the Maharam Shik (OC 152) takes the position that there is no danger with metsisah. However, the [http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1095&pgnum=264 Mishkenot Yacov (YD 63)] writes that drawing blood (hatafat dam) is an integral part of the ritual milah. He proves this from the Zohar and Rashi (Shabbat 134a s.v. lekarchei).</ref> There is a further discussion if metsisah should be done with one's mouth or a utensil. <ref>Har Tzvi (YD 214) writes that since there are dangers with doing metsisah with one's mouth, one may do it with a utensil.</ref> Because of the danger involved, many poskim hold that one should not and may not do metsisah with one's mouth.<ref>Rav Hershel Schachter in a shiur on [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/798611/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Hilchos_Shabbos_3_-_Choleh_BeShabbos_&_Kiddush# yutorah.org ("Hilchos Shabbos 3" min 27-30)] said that there is a real danger to the life of the baby with doing metsisah with one's mouth and it is foolish to continue doing it today. A number of poskim are quoted in an article by David Shabtai and Raymond Sultan entitled Medical Risk Taking in Halacha in 'Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society, 2006. See also the Binyan Tzion 23 who writes that a mohel who does metsisah must be certain that he is not infected with herpes and cause the baby to become infected. Yalkut Yosef Sova Semachot v. 2 ch. 6 fnt. 1 writes that one may use metzitza bkli such as with a tube if there's a concern of danger, otherwise it is done with one's mouth as the Sdei Chemed (Kuntres Metzitza) writes.