“You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. And throughout the generations, every male among you shall be circumcised at the age of eight days.”
Genesis 17:11-12
Thus the mitzvah of brit milah (circumcision, or bris) is launched. It has persisted across the generations, but not without question. Is it barbaric? Is it anti-feminist? Why is the birth of a girl not similarly celebrated? Has it kept us alive as a people? All of these questions are explored in our overview and throughout the articles in this section.
Also, please visit the planning section under babynaming to find checklists, outlines, and other useful information for planning your simcha.
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Blood and Men | Article
By Elyse Goldstein
A feminist mom discusses circumcision.
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Techine for a Brit | Prayer
By Renee S. Septimus
A techine, traditional prayer, to be said by a new mother before the bris of her son
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Brit Milah for Our Son | Complete Ceremony
By Ilana and Scott Ruskay-Kidd
Traditional Brit Milah with added readings and prayers
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New Brit Milah (excerpts) | Complete Ceremony
By Leslie and James Gurland
A brit milah incorporating readings and personal touches
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Creative Brit Milah | Complete Ceremony
By Rabbi Jill Hammer
Three ceremonies for a boy's brit milah, with readings and explanations. Includes options for circumcision at the ceremony or not.
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Simchat Ben | Complete Ceremony
By Chaia Beckerman
Phrases from the Bible are used to form an acrostic of the child's name - a tradition in ceremony and prayer - in this welcoming ceremony for an adopted son who has not yet undergone conversion.
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A Grandparent's Prayer | Prayer
By Ruth Heiges
A blessing of gratitude
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Struggling with Circumcision | Document
By Anonymous
A letter from a father to his son about his conflicted decision to circumcise him
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A Letter to God | Document
By Nahariyah
A mother expresses her ambivalence about circumcision in this powerful letter.
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Reflection on an Interfaith Brit Milah | Article
By Traci Elliot
An intermarried mother reflects on her son's brit milah
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Jewish Feminist Ritual and Brit Milah | Article
By Rabbi Susan P. Fendrick
How Jewish feminism is influencing this boys' ritual and enlarging meaning
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