The Brit Milah Ceremony
The baby is brought in to the room, carried by the kvatter and kvatterin, considered by many to be the godparents.
Two chairs are prepared for the Brit. The first is for the Sandek, the individual who holds the baby on their knees during the actual circumcision. The lap of the Sandek is considered analogous to the altar of the Temple itself. It is considered a great honour to be the Sandek because there is a Cabbalistic tradition that links the soul of the Sandek with the child. In this way, the Sandek is considered the spiritual mentor of the child. In many instances, one of the grandfathers serves as the Sandek.
The second chair is set aside for the spirit of Elijah the Prophet, the "Angel of the Covenant". According to Jewish tradition, Elijah comes to every circumcision to testify before the Almighty to the commitment of the Jewish people to this great mitzvah throughout the generations. During the ceremony, just prior to the Brit itself, the baby is placed on the chair of Elijah, and the Mohel recites a special prayer asking for the spirit of Elijah to stand over him as he performs the Brit.
After the Mohel has performed the brit, a special blessing is recited upon a cup of wine, and the baby is given his Hebrew name. It is customary to serve refreshments or a meal after the brit, and this is considered a seudat mitzvah, part of the mitzvah. (Obviously all food served should be kosher.)
Ideally, a minyan should be present for a Brit, although this is not a pre-requisite.
Two chairs are prepared for the Brit. The first is for the Sandek, the individual who holds the baby on their knees during the actual circumcision. The lap of the Sandek is considered analogous to the altar of the Temple itself. It is considered a great honour to be the Sandek because there is a Cabbalistic tradition that links the soul of the Sandek with the child. In this way, the Sandek is considered the spiritual mentor of the child. In many instances, one of the grandfathers serves as the Sandek.
The second chair is set aside for the spirit of Elijah the Prophet, the "Angel of the Covenant". According to Jewish tradition, Elijah comes to every circumcision to testify before the Almighty to the commitment of the Jewish people to this great mitzvah throughout the generations. During the ceremony, just prior to the Brit itself, the baby is placed on the chair of Elijah, and the Mohel recites a special prayer asking for the spirit of Elijah to stand over him as he performs the Brit.
After the Mohel has performed the brit, a special blessing is recited upon a cup of wine, and the baby is given his Hebrew name. It is customary to serve refreshments or a meal after the brit, and this is considered a seudat mitzvah, part of the mitzvah. (Obviously all food served should be kosher.)
Ideally, a minyan should be present for a Brit, although this is not a pre-requisite.
SuppliesHere are the items you'll need for before, during, and after the brit ceremony.
Post-Bris Care
|
|
While there is still a bandage
* If the baby is uncomfortable you may give him 0.4 ml infant tylenol.
* Before every diaper change, wash your hands with soap and water
* Prepare a gauze pad with a generous heap of A&D ointment on it.
* Open the diaper, wipe as normal – do not touch the gauze or bandage.
* Before closing the new diaper, reach under the gauze to hold the wrapped bandage in place, then gently remove the gauze pad.
* If the gauze pad sticks, either leave till next diaper change or apply a small amount of baby oil to spot that sticks, then remove.
* Replace with new gauze pad, placing center of the gauze over the glans, pinching the sides of the gauze so it forms a tent over the penis.
(Take care not to pinch or squeeze the glans)
* Close diaper.
Once bandage is off (typically after the last time I see the baby)
* First twenty fours hours, apply polysporin/bacitracin on gauze as above
* After twenty four hours of no bandage, apply polysporin/bacitracin directly (no gauze) for two to three full days, at every diaper changing (you can dispense it directly and rub it in with your finger, or dispense onto a Q-tip and apply with the Q-tip)
* After the three or four day period, ointments should no longer be applied as the bris needs to finish healing on its own.
* Baby can bathe the following evening (24+ hours) after the bandage comes off.
* Over the first 2 days, the penis will look mildly swollen, beefy red and will develop a yellowish, wet looking scab (this is healing tissue). The swelling and redness should then start to decrease. Since the scab can stick to the diaper, it is important to place Vaseline on the penis (and over the Surgicel while it is present) starting with the first diaper change after the circumcision and every diaper change until the healing is completed (usually within 5-7 days). In addition to the Vaseline, I will have you gently pull the skin down at the base of the penis to prevent penile adhesions starting the day after the circumcision until there is complete healing (with every diaper change). I will show you how to do this step during the circumcision
* If the baby is uncomfortable you may give him 0.4 ml infant tylenol.
* Before every diaper change, wash your hands with soap and water
* Prepare a gauze pad with a generous heap of A&D ointment on it.
* Open the diaper, wipe as normal – do not touch the gauze or bandage.
* Before closing the new diaper, reach under the gauze to hold the wrapped bandage in place, then gently remove the gauze pad.
* If the gauze pad sticks, either leave till next diaper change or apply a small amount of baby oil to spot that sticks, then remove.
* Replace with new gauze pad, placing center of the gauze over the glans, pinching the sides of the gauze so it forms a tent over the penis.
(Take care not to pinch or squeeze the glans)
* Close diaper.
Once bandage is off (typically after the last time I see the baby)
* First twenty fours hours, apply polysporin/bacitracin on gauze as above
* After twenty four hours of no bandage, apply polysporin/bacitracin directly (no gauze) for two to three full days, at every diaper changing (you can dispense it directly and rub it in with your finger, or dispense onto a Q-tip and apply with the Q-tip)
* After the three or four day period, ointments should no longer be applied as the bris needs to finish healing on its own.
* Baby can bathe the following evening (24+ hours) after the bandage comes off.
* Over the first 2 days, the penis will look mildly swollen, beefy red and will develop a yellowish, wet looking scab (this is healing tissue). The swelling and redness should then start to decrease. Since the scab can stick to the diaper, it is important to place Vaseline on the penis (and over the Surgicel while it is present) starting with the first diaper change after the circumcision and every diaper change until the healing is completed (usually within 5-7 days). In addition to the Vaseline, I will have you gently pull the skin down at the base of the penis to prevent penile adhesions starting the day after the circumcision until there is complete healing (with every diaper change). I will show you how to do this step during the circumcision
Remember!
|
1. Look for signs of infection. Call immediately if there are concerns regarding infection
|