What is Bris Milah?

Bris Milah:

"G-d said to Abraham, 'And as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. At the age of eight days every male among you shall be circumcised, throughout your generations, he that is born in the household or purchased with money from any stranger who is not of your offspring. He that is born in your household or purchased with your money shall surely be circumcised. Thus, My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

An uncircumcised male who will not circumcise the flesh of his foreskin that soul shall be cut off from its people; he has invalidated My covenant."Bereishis (Genesis) 17:9-14. The covenant of circumcision, was commanded by G-d to Abraham over 3,700 years ago. It has been carried out faithfully, from generation to generation, even during times of religious and ethnic persecution when Jews were forced to practice their rituals in secret. In fact, the only time the Jewish people willingly desisted from this practice was during the 40 years of wandering in the Sinai wilderness. Before entering Canaan, every male was circumcised by Joshua.



The acceptance of this commandment established an eternal bond between G-d and the Children of Israel. Its observance today is testimony to the continuity and strength of that relationship which requires us to perform the mitzvah with adherence to the laws and customs prescribed in the Torah and interpreted by our sages. G-d appeared to Abraham when he was 99 years old and commanded him to circumcise himself, his son, Yishmael, all the males of his household and all his slaves. It is said that Abraham accomplished this on the tenth day of the month of Tishrei, later designated as Yom Kippur, when the sins of the Jewish people were forgiven. The following year, when Isaac was born, he was circumcised on the eighth day. In return for his faithfulness, G-d promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation and inherit the land of Canaan for eternity. Today, Bris Milah has acquired a national identity, making its performance today as mandatory for the modern secularists of Israel as for the traditionally observant.