mohel

A mohel (מוהל in Hebrew, mo'el in Ashkenazic pronunciation, mohel in Sephardic pronunciation which is the pronunciation used in modern Israel) is a Jewish ritual circumciser who performs a brit milah ritual circumcision on the penis of a male who is to enter the Jewish covenant.

Biblical origins

For Jews, circumcision is mandatory, as it is prescribed in the Torah:

• In the book of Genesis as a mark of the Covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham: "Throughout all generations, every male shall be circumcised when he is eight days old...This shall be my covenant in your flesh, an eternal covenant. The uncircumcised male whose foreskin has not been circumcised, shall have his soul cut off from his people; he has broken my Covenant" [1] (Genesis 17:1-14), and

• In Leviticus: "God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites: When a woman conceives and gives birth to a boy...And on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." [2] (Leviticus 12:1-3).

Functions

Circumcision is usually performed by a specially trained mohel, a specialist in circumcisions and the rituals surrounding the procedure. Many mohelim are either doctors or Rabbis (and some are even both). However, all have received appropriate training both from a religious and a medical point of view.

Biblically, the infant's father is commanded to perform the circumcision himself. However, as most fathers are not comfortable or do not have the training, they designate a mohel as a delegate. It is customary that, if possible, a mohel will perform his first circumcision on his own son, under the supervision of his own teacher. Even if his first circumcision isn't on his own son, if he has a son, he must perform the circumcision himself and not ask another mohel to do so.

Pop culture

Mohelim are well represented in popular culture, often in a comedic sense.

References to circumcision on television shows include an episode of Seinfeld titled "The Bris", an episode of The Nanny titled "The Unkindest Gift", a two-part episode of Freak Show titled "Mohel-Me-Not", and an episode of South Park titled "Ike's Wee Wee". Also on NBC's Today, a guest described a certain wine bottle opener as a "foil mohel".

In literature, Leo Rosten's book, The Joys of Yiddish, features a couple of Mohel stories.

In film, Mel Brooks appears as the mohel Rabbi Tuckman in Robin Hood: Men In Tights.

Also in film, Porky's II: The Next Day includes references to mohelims and threats of forced circumcision.

In the song "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi" by Weird Al Yankovic, "The parents pay the mohel and he gets to keep the tip"

See also

• Niddah
• Mikvah
• Paysach Krohn

External links

• The Initiation Society - The regulatory body for mohelim in the UK. Provides Information on the ceremony and naming of the child, as well as an up to date list of mohelim
• Entering the Covenant: What is circumcision?
• Orthodox Circumcision: Format of the Bris Ceremony
• Mohel Index & Mohel Job Portal
• Everything you need to know, plus all relevant prayers and blessings

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