Do Jews get circumcised? Why?

The covenant

God told Abraham: “This is My covenant… every male among you shall be circumcised… at the age of eight days” (Genesis 17:10–12). The commandment is repeated in Leviticus 12:3. Abraham circumcised himself at 99 and Isaac at eight days; Jews have kept the practice through history, often at great risk.

The ceremony

The brit takes place on the eighth day, even on Shabbat or Yom Kippur. The father appoints a mohel, a trained practitioner. A sandak holds the baby, blessings are said and the baby receives his Hebrew name. A festive meal follows.

Health first

Jewish law insists that the baby be healthy: jaundice, illness or low weight delay the brit until a doctor and the mohel agree. If two previous sons died from circumcision (a sign of haemophilia), the son is not circumcised.

Converts

A male convert is circumcised as part of conversion; if already circumcised, a drop of blood is drawn (hatafat dam brit).

The blessings and the name

Before the brit the mohel blesses “al hamilah”, and the father blesses “lehachniso bivrito shel Avraham avinu” – to bring him into the covenant of Abraham. The name is given in a prayer that begins “Our God and God of our fathers, sustain this child”. Ashkenazim traditionally name after a deceased relative; Sephardim often name after a living grandparent.

Who is circumcised later

A child born by caesarean section is circumcised on the eighth day even on a weekday, but not on Shabbat. A brit that was postponed is not held on Shabbat or a festival.