Chapter 163 : Chapter 163 The Laws of Circumcision

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§1

It is a positive mitzvah for the father to circumcise his son, or to grant the honor and appoint another Jew as his agent to circumcise him. The father should place the infant on the knees of the sandek, hand over the knife to the mohel, and stand by him during the circumcision, to indicate that the mohel is his agent. In the interval between the cutting of the foreskin and its laceration, the father recites the berachah, Asher kideshanu bemitzvosav vetzivanu lehachniso etc. "Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to induct him into the covenant of our father Avrohom." You should make an effort to find the best and most righteous mohel and sandek. It is customary not to select as sandek, a man who had already been sandek at the circumcision of another one of his sons.¹See Ramah 265:11—Maharil. Also Tzava’as Rabbeinu Yehuda Hachassid. However, the Nodah Beyehuda Kama Responsa 86 says the custom is to permit it. See Chasam Sofer (Orach Chaim) Responsa 158 that you may give the honor more than once to the Rabbi of the city. If you have invited a mohel, it is forbidden to retract and invite another one, for it is said, "The remnant of Yisrael will do no injustice and will speak no falsehood."²Tzefanya 3:13. If you appointed a mohel, and in the meantime the mohel left the city, and the father, thinking that he would not return in time for the circumcision, appointed another (in his stead), but in the meantime the original mohel returned, he should perform the circumcision.

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§2

It is customary that all those attending a circumcision, stand throughout the ceremony, for it is said, "And all the people stood in the covenant,"³II Kings 23:3. excepting the sandek, who holds the baby while seated. After the father recites the berachah, Lehachniso, and those assembled answer amein, they all say, "Just as he was initiated into the covenant, so may he be initiated into the study of Torah, to the Chupah, and to the performance of good deeds."

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§3

It is essential that the mohel be versed in the laws of circumcision, and he must examine the child to see if he is healthy. The midwife (nurses etc.) should be alerted that in case she observes some weakness or illness in the child, she should notify the mohel.

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§4

Extreme care must be taken not to circumcise a child who is possibly ill, for danger to human life overrides all other consideration. Moreover, the circumcision can be performed at a later date, but it is impossible to ever restore one Jewish life. See Yoreh Deiah, Chapters 262,263 as to when to circumcise an infant who had been ill and recovered. As soon as the infant is fit for circumcision, it is forbidden to defer the mitzvah for any reason, such as to elaborate the festivities or the like. You must circumcise him immediately when he is fit, but you may not do so on Shabbos or on Yom Tov, as is stated in Yoreh Deiah Chapter 266.

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§5

If a woman has lost two sons from the effect of circumcision, as it appears that the circumcision had weakened their strength, you may not circumcise the third son until he gets older and stronger. Also a woman who lost a child from the effect of circumcision, and the same thing happened to her sister's son, then the other sisters, too, should not have their sons circumcised until they get older and stronger.

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§6

If a baby is born during twilight, or close to it, you must consult a competent poseik as to when he should be circumcised.

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§7

An infant who dies before circumcision (whether within the eight days or thereafter,) is circumcised at the grave in order to remove (the foreskin) which is a disgrace to him, so he should not be buried with his foreskin which is considered a disgrace to him.⁴Kolbo. No berachah is recited on this circumcision, but a name is given to him as a remembrance that mercy will be shown him from Heaven and he will be included in the resurrection of the dead, and that he may then have sufficient understanding to recognize his father and his mother. If they forgot to circumcise him, and they had already buried him with his foreskin, if they became aware of it immediately, when there is as yet no reason to suspect that the body has begun to decompose in the grave, they should open the grave and circumcise him. But if they had not become aware of it until several days after his death, his grave should not be opened (Nodah Beyehudah Tinyana No. 164).

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§8

It is customary to make a feast on the day of the circumcision; for every mitzvah which Jews accepted with joy, (like the precept of circumcision), they still perform with joy. It is written, "I am happy with your word"⁵Psalms 119:162. etc. and the Sages⁶Maseches Shabbos 130a. explain that this refers to circumcision. He who can afford to make a proper feast, but economizes, and makes it only with coffee and sweets, or the like, does not act properly. If you are invited to a circumcision feast, and you know that worthy men will be present, you are obligated to attend. It is also customary to make a feast of various fruits and drinks on the Friday night before the circumcision.⁷See Tosafos Maseches Baba Kama 80a. This feast is also considered a mitzvah.⁸Remah 262:12. It is also customary that the night prior to the circumcision, people assemble in the house where the baby is, and study Torah. Some refreshments are served, but this feast is not considered a mitzvah, for it is merely a custom.