Veteran Crown Heights mohel Rabbi Levi Heber of the International Bris Association gave a shiur at the Kolel L’horaah Maasis on Tuesday afternoon, addressing many contemporary issues relating to the mitzvah of bris milah.
Rabbi Heber spoke to the yungeleit of the kolel, now in its second year, addressing common issues and pitfalls that the practice of bris milah faces in this day and age, including various objections raised by anti-circumcision activists and even by medical professionals in certain situations.
In particular, Rabbi Heber sounded the alarm about the use of clamps instead of the traditional and acceptable way of performing the mitzvah, noting that frum parents have sometimes been caught unawares when hiring mohelim who use this unkosher method.
Finally, the subject of the metzitzah b’peh controversy was discussed, with Rabbi Heber emphasizing that the medical evidence against the practice was unfounded.
The kolel yungeleit were engaged throughout and expressed appreciation for the interesting and informative shiur, and many stayed on afterwards to continue the discussion in person with Rabbi Heber.
The Kolel L’horaah Ma’asis of Crown Heights is led by Rosh Kolel Rabbi Sholom Shuchat, Sgan Rosh Kolel Rabbi Shraga Homnick and Menahel Rabbi Shlomo Greenwald.
3 Things to Remember As Bris Milahs Are Being Challenged
By Rabbi Levi Heber
Bris Milah is from the greatest of mitzvos. In fact, it’s the very first mitzvah given to the first of our avos, Avraham Avinu. It’s also the first mitzvah for a baby boy at the start of his life. Chazal say that in the merit of bris milah the generation of Egypt was redeemed, and so it will be the merit of bris that will bring the final geulah. (Pirkei D’Rebbi Eliezer)
Throughout history, this essential mitzvah has been challenged and tested. Nonetheless, we have adhered to it and kept it with devotion, self-sacrifice and joy.
Currently, this mitzvah is also being challenged. However, this time it is in ways unlike before. The challenge is in part due to a lack of knowledge and due to a deliberate libelous attack. It is therefore important to highlight and raise awareness to some of these challenges.
1. There are those who unfortunately do not perform a bris for their child for months only because a doctor told them to wait as the child may need surgery in several months to correct a condition the child has. It’s important to note that many of these conditions are minor and cosmetical. They can easily be corrected by a mohel performing a proper bris.
In other cases, when surgery is necessary, the bris can be performed in its proper time and surgery done several months thereafter. Rabbonim, including Rabbi Marlow a”h of Crown Heights Beis Din, as printed in Bris Avraham, have ruled that it is assur to just follow a doctor’s advice regarding delaying a bris, without consulting a competent mohel who is knowledgeable in this field.
2. There are some who present themselves as expert mohalim, yet they perform the bris using a clamp. The clamp method is prohibited to be used when performing a bris. The Frierdiker Rebbe writes in a letter that using a clamp on Shabbos is ‘michallel Shabbos’ and using a clamp in shul on Shabbos would be chillul Shabbos b’farhesia, a desecration of Shabbos in public – a much more severe prohibition. Rabbinical authorities discuss whether a dam bris is required if a clamp was used.
3. Unfortunately, many have been affected and frightened by the libelous attack against mohelim performing metzitzah b’peh. It is nothing less than a modern-day attack on religion. In fact, mohalim take more precautions than the medical community when it comes to delaying a bris for safety. Not a single case of infant herpes has been linked via DNA to that of the mohel. MBP has undisputedly been performed for thousands of years as an integral part and the bris.
The International Bris Association, is committed to educate and assist every Jewish child or adult in receiving a proper bris. Through its worldwide network of certified mohelim and medical affiliates, it provides referrals and assistance to all in need.
VIDEO: Veteran Mohel Speaks to Kolel on Milah
For more information or for assistance, please email [email protected] or call 917-539-8700.
I personally know him and he is the best mohel I have met
A lot of the opposition comes from those who are misinformed.
NO, Jews don’t believe that every male should be circumcised. Only JEWISH MALES need to be circumcised.
Not Jewish? There’s no commandment to circumcise.
I believe that Rabbi Hebber does a tremendous job on educating about bris Mila and how crucial it is for Jews–and also how it’s NOT for gentiles!
Actually, its not mandatory for Jews to be circumcised. A child is automatically Jewish if his/her mother is Jewish. Being intact does not preclude any Jewish male from participating in any Jewish ritual or rite either.
קרבן פסח, אכילת תרומה ועוד כמה וכמה ענינים
Please cite your sources.
Yours is exactly the type of misinformation Rabbi Hebber is battling.
Thank you!
Indeed you need not be circumsized to be Jewish. That doesn’t mean that it’s not an obligation for a Jewish male to be circumsized. No one is claiming that you aren’t Jewish until it’s done.
You are also incorrect in saying “Being “intact” does not preclude any Jewish male from participating in any Jewish ritual or rite”. The korban pesach is one famous example of a ritual in which an uncircumcised Jew cannot partake.
Eating from Korbon pesach?
bris doesnt make you jewish your mother does. its still mandatory…
Not true.
הִמּוֹל לוֹ כָל זָכָר וְאָז יִקְרַב לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ… וְכָל עָרֵל לֹא יֹאכַל בּוֹ
ספר שמות, פרק י”ב, פסוק מ”ח
It is mandatory to be circumsised according to the torah
I know that it is common practice in the US that male babies (non-Jews) will get circumcised for health reasons.
The primary challenge isn’t against circumcision altogether, but against the halachically correct way of doing it.
And by the way, there are groups that oppose it altogether. At present they may not have much influence, but we still need to be vigilant.
Every person’s religious freedom ends where another’s begin, including an infant child. If you believe in religious freedom for yourself and your children, then don’t take away his. Any religion is only but a single generation away from extinction, and the price to pay to sustain our faith community in perpetuity is how we treat our children. Ask yourself, “What is the greater mitzvah, milah or Judaism?”