Brit Milah

Moving:

Baby named after soldier who jumped on grenade

The baby, son of Harel and Avigail Freilich, was named Matan-Chaim in thanks to God for the birth and in memory of fallen soldier Natan Abergil.

Baby dies after circumcision, mohel arrested

A Bnei Brak mohel is under investigation for negligent homicide after an infant he circumcised two weeks earlier passed away from an infection.

56-year-old takes murdered Rabbi's name at circumcision ceremony

A 56-year-old man from Russia took for himself the name of a Chabad emissary murdered in the Bondi Beach attack during his circumcision ceremony.

Essentials of Judaism:

Milah: Defining ourselves

The brit is how we identify ourselves as Hashem’s people and is a symbol of our relationship with Him. And of what that signifies in our personal lives.

Brit Milah Under The Knife

Despite alarming headlines, Brit Milah complications remain extremely rare - and bureaucratic oversight won't fix what's not broken. Op-Ed.

Hours After The Deal:

Hostage's family holds brit mila ceremony

The family of hostage Avinatan Or celebrated today the birth of their new grandson in a particularly emotional brit milah ceremony held in the community of Shiloh, just hours after the hostage deal was announced.

The Brit Milah I never wanted

When I first met Cantor Phil Sherman, New York’s mohel to the stars, I didn’t know what was in store. The friendship that was born that day spanned years.

Jewish leaders & doctors

'Stop the criminalization of Jewish circumcision in Belgium'

The European Jewish Association (EJA) has launched an urgent and coordinated campaign to defend Brit Milah following police raids and pending prosecutions of registered Jewish Mohalim in Antwerp, Belgium.

We chose life:

First brit milah since October 7 massacre held on Kibbutz Be’eri

Moran and Itay Shabi, survivors of the Hamas massacre on Kibbutz Be’eri, celebrate the brit milah of their newborn son at the kibbutz, 'On 10/7 they took everything, but we chose life.'

Right before the funeral

Grandfather circumcises baby Ravid Chaim

Just before the family said goodbye to him, Ravid Chaim's grandfather performed the circumcision ceremony for the child delivered when his mother was murdered in a terrorist attack.

Tragedy:

Mohel dies in middle of circumcision ceremony

The 88-year-old mohel, who circumcised tens of thousands of babies, died today during a circumcision ceremony.

The first Brit Milah

Why didn't Abraham perform the brit milah before G-d told him to?

IDF reservist holds circumcision in town where friend fell

The baby was named Nir Oz, and held by the father of the fallen comrade.

Holy moments

“We will continue to live the dream, but differently.”

A powerful Brit Milah

We cried over the fact that Yehonatan was not there but also celebrated Aviyah and his family’s resolve to continue raising their children with the timeless traditions of the Jewish people.

Brit for son of fallen soldier Yehonatan Lober

Hundreds participated this morning in the brit (circumcision) ceremony for the son of combat soldier, Staff sergeant (res.) Elisha Yehonatan Lober, who fell in battle in the Gaza Strip.

Bereaved family welcomes new son

The family of fallen soldier Amitai Zvi Granot welcomed a new son today in a festive ceremony in the Yeshiva directed by Amitai's father.

Watch:

Reservist participates in son’s Brit via video call

A soldier who was drafted into the reserves on the eve of his son's Brit participated in the event remotely using Zoom.

96-year-old Canadian man circumcised by Chabad in Toronto

Senior described as “oldest man since Abraham” to undergo ritual grew up in communist Ukraine at a time of fervent anti-Jewish sentiment.

What does a baby's brit have to do with the Land of Israel?

Brit mila and Torah study are especially great mitzvot, therefore, dwelling within the Land is especially connected to them.

Jewish leaders say EU plan to fight anti-Semitism ‘not serious’

Jewish leaders call out lack of mention of shechita, Brit Milah bans in new Eu plan to combat anti-Semitism.

Chaim Dovid ben Chaim Dovid

A true story from WWI on the futility of wasting precious hours arguing about the unimportant things in life.

Brit for son of couple who lost baby in terror attack

Brit milah for son of Shira & Amichai Ish-Ran to take place Monday, nearly three years after couple lost their first baby in terror attack.

"We are Lod" - A hopeful celebration in a burned school

Just a week ago, rioters burned the Maoz Academy in Lod. Today, the academy hosted a brit milah - the symbolic celebration of new life.

Grandson named for Rabbi Aviad Ettinger

Brit Milah for grandson of rabbi murdered in terrorist attack in 2019 held today in Jerusalem.

Brit Milah held in Ben Gurion Airport terminal

Ceremony performed in a sterile environment at the terminal which made participation of the grandfather possible

New Zealand: Baby circumcised 5 months late due to COVID-19

Lockdown imposed by New Zealand over COVID-19 pandemic 2 days after their son was born forces parents to wait 5 months for Brit Milah.

Health Ministry's new directives for circumcision ceremonies

Ministry sets new guidelines for allowing Brit Milah ceremonies, allows 19 attendees including baby, mohel. All food must be catered.

Brit Milah prevented at site of destroyed Yitzhar home

150 Border Police prevent family from holding circumcision for their newborn son at site where their home was demolished 2 weeks ago.

Chief Rabbis: Don't postpone circumcision because of coronavirus

Chief Rabbis of Israel issue letter stating except in case of infected newborn, there is no reason to postpone Brit Milah.

Country leaders attend Director's Brit at President's house

Ministers and MKs attend circumcision ceremony for son of President's House's Director Harel Toby. President honored Sandek.

12th child born to President's Chief of Staff

Rivka Ravitz today celebrates Brit for 12th child along with husband Yitzhak Ravitz who serves as Kiryat Yearim Council head.

Newborn injured in car accident on way home from Brit Milah

8-day-old baby hurt when bus, 2 cars collide in Jerusalem after his circumcision ceremony.

Watch:

And they shall call his name in Israel: Achiad

Family from Itamar decides today to call son entering covenant 'Achiad' after Rabbi Ettinger. Godfather: Elyashiv, son of Rabbi Achiad.

2020 Democratic candidate takes stand against circumcision

Businessman and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang takes aim at circumcision - but says parents should have right to choose.

Watch: Brit Milah of Oren Hazan's son

MK Oren Hazan names his 8-day old son Ayalon Yitzhak.

'Jews not welcome in Iceland'

European rabbis compare proposed circumcision ban in Iceland to similar law passed by Nazi Germany.

'Brit Milah ban will ensure no Jewish community is established'

Scandinavian Jewish leaders warn Iceland that legislation banning nonmedical circumcision will prevent Jewish community life in the country.

90-year-old circumcised in Ukraine

90-year-old Jew from Ukraine circumcised in special Jewish clinic in Dnepropetrovsk.

Ukraine: Circumcision for 90-year-old

Historic Brit Milah to take place at new medical center in Menorah compound: 'Not a day in the clinic goes by without saving lives.'

Grandson's circumcision held at grandfather's murder scene

Grandson born on grandfather Avraham Hasno's birthday, who was brutally murdered, was brought this morning in the covenant of Abraham.

Dad explains why he kidnapped baby

Father who ran off with baby just before circumcision explains his motives.

Secular father kidnaps baby minutes before circumcision

Formerly religious father runs off with newborn son moments before circumcision where Rabbi Kanievsky was set to serve as 'sandak'.

Woman that fled from Arab husband circumsizes son

Two months after being rescued from Arab village with her children, 'J' holds ritual circumcision for fourth son born week-and-a-half ago

Leading rabbi challenges Sweden: End bans on milah, shechita

President of Conference of European Rabbis says Swedish gov't can't claim to fight anti-Semitism while actively discriminating against Jews.

Mohels warned to get checked for herpes after babies infected

Prominent Israeli rabbis insist mohels cannot work unless they are cleared of the virus.

Baby named after hero who tackled terrorists unarmed

Despite having never met, the Schmerler family decided to name their newborn son after terror victim Tuvia Yanai Weissman.

US House protects shechita and brit as religious freedoms

House of Representatives passes bill protecting the Jewish right to perform circumcisions and ritual slaughter.

Supreme Court rules: Meir Ettinger will not attend son’s brit

Israeli Supreme Court justices deny request to allow Jewish administrative detainee to attend son's circumcision.

Chief Rabbis asked to help Meir Ettinger attend son's brit

Wife of Ettinger, who has been held 8 months without trial, writes Chief Rabbis: 'How can a Jewish state ban a father from his son's brit?'

Judge refuses to let Meir Ettinger attend son's brit

District court rejects petition to let Meir Ettinger - held 8 months without trial - out for a few hours for firstborn son's brit milah.

Outrage in the capital

'Let my brother attend his firstborn son's brit'

Family members of Meir Ettinger, held 8 months without trial, protest in Jerusalem for his rights; even a Haaretz reporter gets on board.

The mystery of the delayed Brit Milah

What Does it Take to Become a Mohel?

Chief Rabbi David Lau convenes special refresher course for mohelim from across Israel, tells parents to only use mohel with valid license.

The Laws of 'Brit Milah'

Chief Rabbi Blasts Ruling Favoring Brit-Refuser Mom

President of of the Great Rabbinical Court, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, says secular courts are eroding religious courts' authority.

High Court Allows Mother to Refuse Son's Circumcision

In precedent-setting ruling, Court says Rabbinical Court can't force circumcision if one parent objects.

Knesset Film to Battle EU Brit Milah Bans

The Knesset is gearing up into action to battle European efforts to ban Jewish ritual circumcision (brit milah) with a film it produced

Norway FM Assures Circumcision Ban Will Not Happen

FM Brende reassures Simon Wiesenthal Center, which is concerned over a proposed ban on ritual circumcision.

Moving Brit Milah on the Ruins of Homesh

Limor Har Melech, who lost her husband in a 2003 terror attack and remarried, had her baby circumcised on the ruins of Homesh.