Welcome to the Judaism community on Codidact!
Will you help us build our community of learners? Drop into our study hall, ask questions, help others with answers to their questions, share a d'var torah if you're so inclined, invite your friends, and join us in building this community together. Not an ask-the-rabbi service, just people at all levels learning together.
Why an on-time circumcision?
I have frequently heard people wish a newborn baby boy that he "merit an on-time circumcision". Now, in general, an on-time circumcision is performed if the baby is healthy enough, and is not performed if the baby is not healthy enough. And that's certainly a good enough reason to wish the baby an on-time circumcision. But is there another reason? Specifically, is there some spiritual benefit attached to having (or having had) an on-time circumcision rather than a later one?
1 answer
First of all, this is specifically a part of the Misheberach that is recited by the Gabbai the first time the father gets an Aliyah after the birth of a son, at least if that is before the 8th day. If it is after the 8th day or if there is a known problem preventing an on-time Bris - e.g., a C-section that took place on Shabbos - then the word B'zmano/"on-time" is skipped.
The commandment for a Bris really has two parts. One is specifically for the 8th day, as stated in Leviticus 12:3, and the other is for any time from the 8th day onward. In fact, if a boy does not have a Bris by age 13 then he has a responsibility for it himself rather than it being a responsibility of his parents. Not having a Bris on the 8th day can happen for a lot of reasons and a "late" Bris is no less valid than an 8th day Bris, but an 8th day Bris is preferred.
An on-time (8th day) Bris is preferred Halachically. In particular, an on-time Bris overrides Shabbos, at least to a limited degree. The Bris procedure itself involves a number of Melachos ("work" actions prohibited on Shabbos/Yom Tov). If the Bris is on-time then a Bris can, and in fact should, take place on Shabbos. However, if the Bris is not on-time due to illness or other reasons (e.g., unable to get a Mohel on the 8th day), or if the baby was born via C-section, or if the baby was born between sunset and "three stars" on Friday night or Saturday night then the Bris is not performed on Shabbos.
1 comment thread
0 comment threads