Here you will find a wealth of information about the Brit Milah (or Bris) ceremony for boys, and the Baby Naming (Simchat Bat or Zeved Habat) ceremony for girls. Much of this information is repeated in different ways throughout the web site. I hope it will give you a good sense about my philosophy and approach to these beautiful rituals.
I hope you and your family are safe and well. The pandemic continues, but the end is in sight. The vaccine is here. Until it can be distributed to the general population, we still need to be vigilant about mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing. It’s not over yet.
I perform Brisses throughout the entire New York tri-state area. As a traditional, Sabbath observant Mohel, I perform Brisses and Brisses for the Sake of Conversion (Britot Milah L’shem Gerut) for Jewish families of all backgrounds: Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Orthodox, Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Interfaith, Alternative families and the LGBTQ community. I introduce and explain the ceremony in a tasteful manner with the goal of making each event warm, meaningful and inclusive. The actual circumcision is quick, gentle and compassionate with no advance preparation required. The Brisses are recognized by all the movements of Judaism and in Israel. I also perform Holistic Circumcisions for non-Jewish families.
I am happy to report that more relatives and friends are now attending Brisses. As a reminder, anyone attending a Bris should wear a mask covering their nose and mouth and I suggest that anyone holding the baby should wear gloves, as well.
I continue to have myself tested monthly for Covid-19. My last tests results (Rapid and PCR) came in on Friday, December 11th. Both were negative. All the test results since last April have been negative. I wear gloves, carry three different types of masks with me and have other PPE supplies with me if needed. In addition to limiting the number of Brisses I perform in a day, once I have reviewed the after-care with the parents, I am on my way. I do not stay for the meal nor remain to socialize. A number of families have arranged a Covid-19 test for me at their expense in advance of their son’s Bris either with a doctor’s office, a lab or a concierge service. If you would like to do that, I am amenable.
Please continue to be vigilant with masks, hand washing/sanitizer and social distancing. With this second wave of Covid-19, I continue to take the pandemic very seriously.
NOTE: If you are researching mohels and are thinking about using a non-traditional doctor-mohel or having a hospital circumcision, please let me know and I will send you additional information. This is a very important decision and parents should have as much information as possible to make a fully informed decision. The chances of Covid-19 infection are much higher if you use a doctor-mohel or have a hospital circumcision. Also, a doctor-mohel or hospital circumcision can take anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes (!) with your baby strapped down to a board and then a second procedure will be required to make that operation a Bris. I don't think most parents want that for their baby.
If your son was circumcised in the hospital or by a doctor-mohel, he can still have a Bris and be properly entered into the Covenant of Abraham. (See below.**) Also, it is very important to determine beforehand that the hospital or doctor circumcision was performed properly.
If you have moved out of the area, please email me. I cover a large geographical area and may still be able to perform the Bris for you.
My goal is to maximize safety for everyone involved. I would like you to be confident in the steps I am taking when it comes to performing Brisses during this time. All of my instruments are heat-steam sterilized in an autoclave. Everything else is disposable. I use a new, sterilized set for every Bris. I continue to re-evaluate the situation on a week-to-week basis. For now, the following protocols are still in place for Bris families:
**For babies that were circumcised in the hospital or did not have a proper Bris performed by a certified rabbi or cantor mohel, I can perform a Hatafat Dam Bris ceremony to turn that circumcision into a Bris. It will be a complete ceremony including the Honors, the announcement of your son’s Hebrew/Jewish name followed by a festive meal if you choose to make one. At the point in the ceremony where the circumcision would have taken place, the hatafat dam brit, the drawing of a drop of blood from the circumcision site, will be performed. The discomfort to the baby is minimal and momentary. (He will probably cry more when his diaper comes off and his legs are held.) This will ensure that your son will have been properly entered into the Covenant of Abraham. Doing this will allow him to have a Bar Mitzvah or get married someday unimpeded. If your son decides to follow a more traditional Jewish path in life, this will also remove any obstacles. A certificate will be issued attesting that the requirements of the Bris have been fulfilled in accordance with Jewish law. It will be recognized by all the movements of Judaism and in Israel.
NOTE: It is important to determine beforehand that the hospital or doctor circumcision was done properly. I have had two families recently who wanted the Hatafat Dam Bris ceremony, but there was so much skin left that their babies did not look circumcised. They will have to be re-circumcised before they can have a Hatafat Dam Bris Ceremony.
Summary:
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If you would like information about Brisses, Baby Naming ceremonies for girls, availability and fees, please email me. I will send you additional information to help you prepare for those joyous events. If you had your baby, Mazel Tov! If you are expecting a baby, best wishes for an easy delivery and a beautiful, healthy baby. I look forward to seeing you at a simcha (happy occasion) soon!
Cantor Philip L. Sherman
Mohel
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