Brit Milah
(Covenant of Circumcision)
A hidden physical mark carried by almost every Jewish man in Israel.
The mark is imprinted on him as an eight-day-old infant in a short, two-to-three-minute surgical procedure. During this time, a piece of skin (called the "foreskin") is removed from the most important organ in a man's body—the one hidden beneath his pants—changing its natural form. This reshaped organ will become the common denominator he shares with all Jewish men around the world.
The entire procedure is at the heart of a religious ceremony known as "Brit Milah" or, more commonly, "Brit". The "Brit" ceremony is held in the presence of invited guests, family, and close friends, often in a reception hall or a hospital. After the medical procedure is completed, the parents, for the first time, reveal the name they have given their baby.
Brit Milah is both a religious obligation and a social convention, perhaps the most important of all. It symbolizes the son's belonging to the Jewish people and has accompanied Jews for thousands of years, wherever they have lived.
A man who belongs to another religion ("a Gentile" or what we call a 'Goy') and wishes to join the Jewish people - must undergo a "Giyur" (conversion) process, which includes a long series of tests and religious and traditional commitments. Naturally, he must also have his organ circumcised (the foreskin cut and removed). The "Milah" procedure is a crucial and central part of the overall conversion process. Only after this does he cease to be a Gentile and change his status to a Jew.
An Israeli man who is not circumcised might encounter social problems during his life in Israel.
For example, at school, he could become a target for mockery from his friends. When he reaches 18 and fulfills his duty to enlist in the army, he might be embarrassed in front of his fellow soldiers who see him naked in the shower, or even in a public urinal, where he might be met with curious stares.
These problems could also follow him in his romantic relationships and when he decides to get married. A Jewish woman who meets an uncircumcised man and wants to formalize their relationship might face a charged encounter with her family, sometimes even a non-negotiable demand from them that he undergo a conversion with Brit Milah.
Despite this, in the 21st century, there are thousands of Jewish Israelis living in the country who are staunch atheists and choose to forgo performing Brit Milah for their newborn son because they consider it a cruel act.
The Ceremony Today
The Brit Milah ceremony, or "Brit" for short, for a newborn baby is one of the most common and joyous events in Israel—and it’s considered the most important of all.
The ceremony is conducted by men who wear a Kippah and are wrapped in a Tallit (prayer shawl), led by the "Mohel", who manages the ceremony according to the rules of Jewish law.
Women are reserved for secondary roles of assistance and serving:
the baby's mother will arrive with the baby in a stroller, hand him over to the father, who will pass him to the Mohel. During the ceremony, she stands to the side, surrounded by her friends and female relatives, and wipes a tear from her eye—either from the excitement of the ceremony, from the post-labor pain she has just gone through, or perhaps from thinking about the suffering of the baby who just emerged from her womb.
Circumcision during the period of Ancient Egypt
Additional Highlights of the Jewish Ceremony Today
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Mohel: A skilled professional trained to perform the Brit according to Jewish rules, without harming the health of the newborn.
Most Mohels lack formal academic medical training. They acquire their knowledge in religious frameworks and their skills through an apprenticeship with a veteran and experienced Mohel.
Some parents don't trust such a Mohel and prefer to hold the ceremony in a hospital, where the Mohel is a surgical doctor, a certified M.D., and experienced in surgical procedures. -
Sandak: The man who holds the baby in his arms while the Mohel performs his work. This is an honor that the parents bestow. The most common Sandak is the baby's grandfather, but the role can also be given to an important person or a good friend.
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Background Noise: Prayers and blessings, and the heart-wrenching cries of the baby undergoing a painful operation without serious anesthesia.
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"V'Yikareh Sh'mo B'Yisrael" ("And his name shall be called in Israel"): The moment the world is revealed to the baby's name.
The name chosen by the parents is a closely guarded secret that they hide even from their closest family members. The moment the Mohel finishes his work, he recites a blessing that includes the phrase, "V'Yikareh Sh'mo B'Yisrael...," and immediately afterward, the new name echoes among all the guests.
Brit Milah is also a religious commandment among Muslim men, who constitute the largest minority in the State of Israel.
Most of them undergo the procedure in infancy or later, up to age 13. They also have unique ceremonies that vary according to the Islamic stream or community to which they belong.
Thus, the vast majority of men in Israel carry this hidden physical mark between their legs, and no one knows about it, except for the woman they are with.
This is part of "The Israeli Story 1948-2025" project.
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