Festive Milestone or Barbaric Abuse? - A Gray-Area Guide to the Circumcision Debate
July, 2011, Rabbi Shira Shazeer
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Find a mohel you trust and ask about his / her procedure
In the process of making your decision, ask around about mohalim in your area. Is there someone that your friend, your rabbi, or somebody you trust recommends? You might interview a few, ask them about your concerns, and see if you get a good feel from them, like you would when you’re looking for a doctor. You can even ask for references. You can ask about how the procedure works, how long it takes, what kind of pain relief they suggest or provide, what kind of ceremony they hold and what kind of follow-up they do. Some mohalim are doctors. Others are rabbis or cantors. Those who are doctors may use different kinds of anesthetic and it’s worth researching what you would prefer and asking the mohel what he/she usually uses or what options he/she is comfortable with. Traditionally the baby would be given a few drops of sweet wine, which like sugar water has a calming effect and relieves some of the pain. A mohel without an MD may prefer just wine or may recommend that you ask your pediatrician to prescribe a topical anesthetic creme, or may leave the decision up to you.
Most mohalim will arrange to follow up with you after the bris. They may spend time with you right after the ceremony, making sure you know how to care for the healing wound, and allowing you a chance to ask questions. They may schedule a check-in by phone or in person within a few days to make sure everything is okay, and may encourage you to call if you have any concerns. You can find out in advance how the mohel you are considering normally communicates with parents after the bris.
Aside from the debate over circumcision itself, every once in a while, the practice of metzitzah b’peh makes the news. Metzitah b’peh is a no-longer-universal part of the traditional circumcision ceremony in which the mohel sucks a small amount of blood from the wound then spits it out. It was once the norm, and probably did have its roots in keeping the wound clean and the baby safe. Today, it is clearly not the most sanitary way to clean the wound and can even transmit dangerous diseases like herpes. Luckily, most mohalim do not practice metzitzah b’peh. Some use a sterile tube to suck a small amount of blood instead, without any contact between the baby and the mohel’s mouth. Many others skip it all together. Asking the mohel what he/she normally does or is comfortable doing could help you make your decision.
Most mohalim will arrange to follow up with you after the bris. They may spend time with you right after the ceremony, making sure you know how to care for the healing wound, and allowing you a chance to ask questions. They may schedule a check-in by phone or in person within a few days to make sure everything is okay, and may encourage you to call if you have any concerns. You can find out in advance how the mohel you are considering normally communicates with parents after the bris.
Aside from the debate over circumcision itself, every once in a while, the practice of metzitzah b’peh makes the news. Metzitah b’peh is a no-longer-universal part of the traditional circumcision ceremony in which the mohel sucks a small amount of blood from the wound then spits it out. It was once the norm, and probably did have its roots in keeping the wound clean and the baby safe. Today, it is clearly not the most sanitary way to clean the wound and can even transmit dangerous diseases like herpes. Luckily, most mohalim do not practice metzitzah b’peh. Some use a sterile tube to suck a small amount of blood instead, without any contact between the baby and the mohel’s mouth. Many others skip it all together. Asking the mohel what he/she normally does or is comfortable doing could help you make your decision.