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Circumcision (Brit Milah) and How to Choose a Moyel

1 January 2025

If you have decided to circumcise your son in a brit milah, it is important to choose a mohel or physician certified to perform the procedure and that they have the necessary instruments to properly perform the circumcision from a religious, medical, and professional perspective. Before reserving any mohel to perform the circumcision, the recommendation is to determine whether the mohel is certified and holds a valid ID tag.

Before the circumcision

You should come prepared and know what to expect. You should speak with the mohel before the circumcision to receive an accurate description of the procedure. The mohel will also give you instructions to prepare, such as how long to not feed the infant before the ceremony and what equipment to bring to the ceremony itself.

  • Focus of the brit: You should plan the venue for the brit or event to be somewhere where the mother and infant can be together quietly so that they can arrive at the ceremony as calm and relaxed as possible.
  • Pain relief: If you have any questions about what can be done to reduce the infant’s pain, discuss these issues with the physician or pediatrician and family rabbi.
  • Breastfeeding: If you are breastfeeding, you should breastfeed your infant after the ceremony to calm him down.
  • Customs: Different communities have various customs, and it is important that you are comfortable with your choice. In 2011, the Israeli Pediatric Association published a warning about a procedure known as “metzitzah b'peh, or oral genital suction,” and recommended the use of a tube to reduce the chances of disease transmission from the mohel’s mouth to the infant. Note: It is important to discuss this with the mohel when planning for the Brit.

Infant care following the circumcision

Once the circumcision ceremony (the incision itself) has ended, the mohel will bandage the penis, issue instructions on caring for the dressing, and explain when to expect it to fall or when to remove it. 

Note: Reddish pink stains may appear on the bandage that is wrapped around the penis and diaper. As long as the quantity is small, the phenomenon is common and does not require any special care. If the bleeding changes and drops are visible, or if the infant is restless or crying nonstop, it is important to call the mohel. If the ambulance is unavailable or if the infant’s temperature exceeds 38 degrees, it is important to go to the emergency room.

During the first days following the circumcision, the area of the glans that was exposed will be purple in color. Yellow sections may appear on top—this is not an infection but cells that had been underneath the foreskin and shed. Within one week, the color of the area should become consistent and revert to the natural skin color.

The area of the glans that was exposed will be purple in color. Yellow sections may appear on top—this is not an infection but cells that had been underneath the foreskin and shed. Within one week, the color of the area should become consistent and revert to the natural skin color. The change in skin color is a sign of the area healing.

A brit milah is a religious ceremony performed 8 days after the infant’s birth that involves the removal of the foreskin that covers the glans of the penis. 

If medically necessary, the ceremony can be postponed. When the infant is suffering from neonatal jaundice, for example.

The removal of the foreskin can also be performed later in life. The medical world is divided about the importance of the procedure, and as such, the reasons for performing circumcision are primarily religious or cultural. 

Selecting a certified mohel or physician for the circumcision

If you have decided on a circumcision, it is important to select a mohel who is certified to perform the circumcision. Data from the Ministry of Health and hospitals in Israel reveal that a circumcision performed by a certified mohel or a certified physician mohel is the safest choice. 

Most cases that arrive at the hospital with complications from the circumcision occurred when the mohen was not certified and supervised by the Interministerial Committee for the Supervision and Certification of Mohels. This committee is composed of physicians, rabbis, and mohels, representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Chief Rabbinate for Israel. A mohel who is certified by the Committee has undergone religious, medical, and professional exams alongside medical tests and vaccines that he is obligated to periodically undergo. The mohel must undergo training and specialization by a certified mohel and obtain a recommendation from the committee supervisor to receive the certificate. He must also provide a written undertaking to comply with the rabbinical and medical procedures established by the Committee. One year after the end of the certification, the mohel must again pass the practical and academic tests of the committee.

Important to know

Important to know

A mohel certified by the committee receives a certificate and ID tag that indicate his certification. Before reserving any mohel to perform the circumcision, the recommendation is to determine whether the mohel is certified by the Committee and holds a valid ID tag.

A list of certified mohels recommended by the Committee on the Rabbinate website (in Hebrew)

Preparing for the circumcision

  • Description of the process: In order to come prepared and know what to expect, you should speak with the mohel before the circumcision to receive an accurate description of the procedure.
  • Frequently asked questions: The mohel will also give you instructions to prepare before the circumcision, such as how long to not feed the infant before the ceremony and what equipment to bring to the ceremony itself.
  • Venue of the brit: the venue is a personal choice of the family at its discretion. You should plan the venue for the ceremony to be somewhere where the mother and infant can be together quietly so that they can arrive at the ceremony as calm and relaxed as possible.
  • Pain relief: If you have any questions about what can be done to reduce the infant’s pain, discuss these issues with the physician or pediatrician and family rabbi.
  • Breastfeeding: If you are breastfeeding, you should breastfeed your infant after the ceremony to calm him down.
  • Customs: Different communities have various customs, and it is important that you are comfortable with your choice. In 2011, the Israeli Pediatric Association published a warning about a procedure known as “metzitzah b'peh, or oral genital suction,” and recommended the use of a tube to reduce the chances of disease transmission from the mohel’s mouth to the infant. It is important to discuss this with the mohel when planning for the Brit.

Infant care following the circumcision

Once the circumcision ceremony (the incision itself) has ended, the mohel will bandage the penis, issue instructions on caring for the dressing, and explain when to expect it to fall or when to remove it. 

Note: Reddish pink stains may appear on the bandage that is wrapped around the penis and diaper. If the number of stains is small, the phenomenon is common and is not something to be concerned about or one that requires special treatment. If the bleeding changes and drops are visible, or if the infant is restless or crying nonstop, it is important to call the mohel. If the ambulance is unavailable or if the infant’s temperature exceeds 38 degrees, it is important to go to the emergency room. 

The first days following the circumcision

The area of the glans that was exposed will be purple in color. Yellow sections may appear on top—this is not an infection but cells that had been underneath the foreskin and shed. Within one week, the color of the area should become consistent and revert to the natural skin color. The change in skin color is a sign of healing.

In the first days after the circumcision, the infant may be restless. To calm the infant down, shower him with love and, if necessary, administer an age-appropriate painkiller at the suitable dosage for his weight. In most cases, after one or two days, the infant returns to normal. If you have any concerns, seek medical attention from your pediatrician or at the Family Care Center.

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