Brit Milah: Difference between revisions
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==When a Brit Milah should take place== | ==When a Brit Milah should take place== | ||
# The Brit Milah is performed on the eighth day after the baby's birth.<ref>Vayikra 12:3, Tur and Shulchan Aruch 262:1</ref> It may not be performed before. If it is done before the eighth day there is a dispute after the fact and the child should have a hatafat dam brit ceremony on the eighth day.<ref>Rama Y.D. 262:1 rules that after the fact a milah before the eighth day during the day, and not the night, is acceptable. However, the Shach 262:2 disagrees and requires a | # The Brit Milah is performed on the eighth day after the baby's birth.<ref>Vayikra 12:3, Tur and Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 262:1</ref> It may not be performed before. If it is done before the eighth day there is a dispute after the fact and the child should have a hatafat dam brit ceremony on the eighth day.<ref>Rama Y.D. 262:1 rules that after the fact a milah before the eighth day during the day, and not the night, is acceptable. However, the Shach 262:2 disagrees and requires a hatafat dam brit, but that wouldn't be performed on Shabbat. Bear Heitiv 262:1 cites the Shach.</ref> It is permitted for a Jewish doctor to perform a hospital circumcision for a non-religious Jew before the eighth day.<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/931524/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/from-the-rabbis-desk-hospital-circumcision/ Rabbi Lebowitz] explained that doing a milah before the eighth day might not be effective and have to do it again. But since the Rama holds it is effective it is still worthwhile to do the milah. Even if it is ineffective and they would need a hatafat dam brit later that doesn't make it forbidden to do. Since it might make the child not an arel it is permitted for the doctor to do it. They should be aware that they cut the necessary amount that it would be a valid circumcision according to the halacha, the anesthesia and the clamps used today that allow for a little bleeding wouldn't invalidate the circumcision. He concluded by quoting Rav Mordechai Willig as permitting this.</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 | # 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 Y.D. 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 one performed the Brit Milah before [[HaNetz HaChama]] after [[Olot HaShachar]] one fulfills one's obligation.<ref>[[Megillah]] 20a, Rama 262:1</ref> | ||
# If it will cause a fight among the family to perform the Brit Milah very early, one may delay it, but one should still try to make it as early as possible.<ref>Rav Mordechai Eliyahu's comment on Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:1</ref> | # If it will cause a fight among the family to perform the Brit Milah very early, one may delay it, but one should still try to make it as early as possible.<ref>Rav Mordechai Eliyahu's comment on Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:1</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 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 | # 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 Y.D. 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> | ||
==Brachot for the Brit Milah== | ==Brachot for the Brit Milah== | ||
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==Brit Milah Ceremony== | ==Brit Milah Ceremony== | ||
# When the baby is brought in, those in attendance should say Baruch Haba Beshem Hashem out loud. The father of the baby says the pasuk אשרי תבחר ותקרב ישכון חצריך and those standing there answer נשבעה בטוב ביתך קדוש היכלך.<Ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:1</ref> | # When the baby is brought in, those in attendance should say Baruch Haba Beshem Hashem out loud. The father of the baby says the pasuk אשרי תבחר ותקרב ישכון חצריך and those standing there answer נשבעה בטוב ביתך קדוש היכלך.<Ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:1</ref> | ||
# Everyone in attendance of the Brit Milah should stand except for the Sandak who is holding the baby.<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:2 | # Everyone in attendance of the Brit Milah should stand except for the Sandak who is holding the baby.<ref>Rama Y.D. 265:1 cites the Maharam who made n allusion to the concept of standing for a Brit Milah from ויעמד העם בברית (Melachim 2:23:3). This is codified by the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:2 and Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:2.</ref> | ||
# After the Bracha of LeHachniso, those in attendance should answer [[Amen]] and add "כשם שנכנס לברית כן תכניסהו לתורה ולחופה למצוות ולמעשים טובים" - "Keshem SheNichnas LaBrit Ken Yikanes LeTorah ULeChpah ULeMaasim Tovim".<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:2, Otzar Habrit 3:15:20</ref> Sephardim have the practice to say "כשם שהכנסתו לברית כן תכניסהו לתורה ולחופה למצוות ולמעשים טובים" unless the father isn't there in which case they say "כשם שנכנס לברית כן תכניסהו לתורה ולחופה למצוות ולמעשים טובים".<ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:5</ref> | # After the Bracha of LeHachniso, those in attendance should answer [[Amen]] and add "כשם שנכנס לברית כן תכניסהו לתורה ולחופה למצוות ולמעשים טובים" - "Keshem SheNichnas LaBrit Ken Yikanes LeTorah ULeChpah ULeMaasim Tovim".<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:2, Otzar Habrit 3:15:20</ref> Sephardim have the practice to say "כשם שהכנסתו לברית כן תכניסהו לתורה ולחופה למצוות ולמעשים טובים" unless the father isn't there in which case they say "כשם שנכנס לברית כן תכניסהו לתורה ולחופה למצוות ולמעשים טובים".<ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:5</ref> | ||
# The mohel places the baby on the Kiseh of Eliyahu and says זה כסא של אליהו הנביא מלאך הברית.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:8</ref> | # The mohel places the baby on the Kiseh of Eliyahu and says זה כסא של אליהו הנביא מלאך הברית.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:8</ref> | ||
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# At the end of the milah the Sephardic minhag of Yerushalayim is to recite שיר המעלות אשרי כל ירא ה' and Kaddish Yemey Shelemah.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:27</ref> | # At the end of the milah the Sephardic minhag of Yerushalayim is to recite שיר המעלות אשרי כל ירא ה' and Kaddish Yemey Shelemah.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Milah 8:27</ref> | ||
===Tallit and Tefillin for Brit Milah=== | ===Tallit and Tefillin for Brit Milah=== | ||
# The Ashkenazic minhag is for everyone involved and observing the milah to keep on Tefillin for the Brit Milah since the Brit Milah is a sign between us and Hashem and so is the Tefillin.<ref>Mishna Brurah 25:55, Piskei Teshuvot 25:29</ref> Sephardim, however, have the practice not to keep on Tefillin, yet those who do have the practice to leave on Tefillin have what to rely upon.<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot 2:7:2)</ref> | # The Ashkenazic minhag is for everyone involved and observing the milah to keep on Tefillin for the Brit Milah since the Brit Milah is a sign between us and Hashem and so is the Tefillin.<ref>Mishna Brurah 25:55, Piskei Teshuvot 25:29. Avnei Yishfeh 7:7:8 explains that unlike Shabbat or Yom Tov which are a day that is a sign between us and Hashem, brit milah is a temporary mitzvah and doesn't not require removing tefillin. Siach Tzadikim (Brit Milah p. 145) quotes the practice of the Satmer Rebbe to remove his tefillin for milah because the brit milah is a sign like Shabbat and tefillin is also a sign.</ref> Sephardim, however, have the practice not to keep on Tefillin, yet those who do have the practice to leave on Tefillin have what to rely upon.<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot 2:7:2)</ref> | ||
#If the milah is on a Rosh Chodesh and the congregation already took off their tefillin many hold that they should not put it back on for the Brit Milah. The Ashkenazic minhag is that the father of the baby, the Mohel, and Sandak put back on their tefillin,<ref>Piskei Teshuvot 25:29</ref> while Sephardim have the practice not to put them back on.<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot 2:7:2)</ref> | #If the milah is on a Rosh Chodesh and the congregation already took off their tefillin many hold that they should not put it back on for the Brit Milah. The Ashkenazic minhag is that the father of the baby, the Mohel, and Sandak put back on their tefillin,<ref>Piskei Teshuvot 25:29</ref> while Sephardim have the practice not to put them back on.<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot 2:7:2)</ref> | ||
# The minhag is for sandak and father of the baby to wear a tallit during the brit milah.<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot 2:7:2)</ref> | # The minhag is for sandak and father of the baby to wear a tallit during the brit milah.<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Sova Semachot 2:7:2)</ref> | ||
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===Meat or Dairy=== | ===Meat or Dairy=== | ||
# Ideally the meal should have meat but one fulfills the minhag even with chicken or fish.<ref>Magen Avraham 249:6 citing the Maharshal requires meat for a brit milah meal. Yalkut Yosef Sova Semachot 2:11:3 based on Taamei Haminhagim writes that the meal should have meat initially but if that's not possible it could have chicken or fish. Rabbenu Bechay Beresheet 21:8 writes that the minhag to have a seuda after a Brit Milah is based on the party Avraham made for Yitzchak and the midrash writes that the party was for fact he was able to give Yitzchak a Milah. </ref> | # Ideally the meal should have meat but one fulfills the minhag even with chicken or fish.<ref>Magen Avraham 249:6 citing the Maharshal requires meat for a brit milah meal. Yalkut Yosef Sova Semachot 2:11:3 based on Taamei Haminhagim writes that the meal should have meat initially but if that's not possible it could have chicken or fish. Rabbenu Bechay Beresheet 21:8 writes that the minhag to have a seuda after a Brit Milah is based on the party Avraham made for Yitzchak and the midrash writes that the party was for fact he was able to give Yitzchak a Milah. </ref> | ||
# Those who are lenient to have dairy for the milah meal should at least serve wine.<ref>[http://www.torahweb.org/torah/docs/rsch/RavSchachter-Corona-56-January-31-2021.pdf Rav Schachter (Corona teshuva #56)]</ref> | |||
===Bread=== | ===Bread=== | ||
# The meal should be a bread meal.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Sova Semachot 2:11:3</ref> | # The meal should be a bread meal.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Sova Semachot 2:11:3</ref> | ||
