Mohel

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A mohel, or mo'el, is a Jewish ritual circumcisor who performs a brit milah ritual circumcision on the penis of a normal and healthy eight day old boy by cutting away the foreskin.

Table of contents

1 Biblical origins
2 Functions
3 Related topics
4 External links

Biblical origins

For Jews this is mandated, as it is prescribed in the Torah, in the book of Genesis (17:1-14) as a mark of the Covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham: "Throughout all generations, every male shall be circumcised when he is eight days old...This shall be My covenant in your flesh, an eternal covenant. The uncircumcised male whose foreskin has not been circumcised, shall have his soul cut off from his people; he has broken My Covenant" (Genesis, 17:12-14), and in Leviticus: "On the eighth day (the child's) foreskin shall be circumcised" (Leviticus, 12:3).

Functions

Circumcision is performed by a specially trained mohel, whose main function is to perform circumcisions. The infant's father is supposed to perform the circumcision, but most fathers do not have the training so a mohel does it. It is customary, that if possible, a mohel will perform his first circumcision on his own son, under the supervisionion of his own teacher.

The Reform and Conservative movements also train and accredit mohelim—they may even be medical doctors.