For 3500 years, since the time of our forefather Abraham, the Jewish People have observed the ritual of circumcision as the fundamental sign of the convenant between G-d and Israel.
The Brit Milah is the Convenant of Circumcision and is considered the sign of a newborn child's entry into the Jewish tradition.
The procedure involved in the Brit Milah differs from medical circumcision in that heavy clamping or other interventional instruments are forbidden. The Mohel (Ritual Circumcisor) use a protective shield to ensure the utmost safety for the child, and then cleanses the incision through a uniquely Jewish practice called m'tzitzah.
The procedure is extremely qick and relatively painless.
Every Brit Milah must be performed by a properly trained and certified Mohel (Ritual Circumsisor). A Mohel is formally trained both in circumcision techniques as well as in Jewish law and tradition.
The Brit Milah of a healthy baby is always done on the 8th day, even Shabbos or Yom Kippur.
The 8th day is calculated to include the day of birth.
Originally, the first-born males of the Children of Israel were to serve as priests, but after they joined the sin of the Golden Calf, this designation was given to the tribe of Levi, who remained loyal to G-d. Still, the first born son has a certain innate sanctity that needs to e redeemed by the father, who gives five silver coins to a kohen, a descendant of Aaron's family within the tribe of Levi.
Exodus 13:1-3 tells us that a son, who is the firstborn of his mother belongs to G-d; or more specifically, to the Kohen (priest) who serves in the worship of G-d. Later in the Torah, we redeem the child, or buy him back. While there is no way to fix the 'worth' of a baby boy, the buy-back price is stated in the Torah as five shekalim of silver - nowadays, five silver dollars.
This transaction generally takes place when the baby is 31 days old. If the baby survived the first 30 days, his chances for good health are likely. If the 31st day is Shabbos or Yom Tov, the ceremony is postponed to the evening or to the next day, but one should try to do it as soon as possible.
The ceremony begins with a formal exchange between the father who announces that this is his first born and that he whishes to redeem him from the kohen. The father then recites the appropriate blessings and gives the money to the kohen. Afterwards, the kohen is free to keep all or part of the money, or to return it. Then, everyone is invited to a festive meal.
- The baby needs to be the firstborn son.
- If either the mother or father is offspring of a Kohen or a Levi, there is no ceremony. The purpose of the ceremony is to exempt the baby from serving with Kohanim/Leviim, but if the baby belongs to one of those families anyway, he need not to be exempted.
-Pidyon Haben is not done for infants born by cesarean section, or in general when the mother has had a previous miscarriage.
