Question: If my baby is circumcised by a doctor in the hospital, does this count as a Jewish circumcision?
Jewish circumcision is known in Hebrew as brit milah, which literally means “covenant of circumcision.” It is a ritual that formally celebrates a child’s entry into the covenant that God made with Abraham in Genesis 17:9-12. Circumcision is itself the “sign” of this covenant. Any baby born to a Jewish mother is considered to be included in this covenant, with or without circumcision. But if a Jewish baby is circumcised in the hospital, does this count as a brit milah?
It does not.
The first issue is the timing. Brit milah is specifically instructed to occur on the eighth day of a Jewish boy’s life, or as soon thereafter as the newborn is healthy enough to undergo it. Most infant circumcisions in a hospital occur much closer to the time of birth.
Help us keep Jewish knowledge accessible to millions of people around the world.
Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish discovery. With your help, My Jewish Learning can continue to provide nonstop opportunities for learning, connection and growth.
But the bigger issue relates to the intention and ritual elements. When a brit milah is performed, it is stated explicitly that the procedure is being done to enact the sign of the covenant. This is reflected in the blessings and other aspects of the ceremony, such as the father formally conveying his responsibility to circumcise his son to a mohel, the person who performs the circumcision itself. It is also customary for the baby to receive his name during the brit milah ceremony, another element that makes it distinct from non-ritual circumcision in a hospital.
If a Jewish baby has been circumcised in hospital, parents may have a separate naming ceremony and ritual welcoming him into the community. To make this a brit milah, it should ideally occur on the eighth day and include hatafat dam brit — a notional “re-circumcision” in which a drop of blood is drawn from the penis and over which the blessing for circumcision is said. The ritual of brit milah is an extremely powerful one, full of love and affirmation of the child’s belonging. Even if your baby has already been circumcised, I would highly recommend experiencing the ritual as well.
Rabbi Sarah Bracha Gershuny is a writer, ritualist, musician, healer and teacher.
