Your questions, answered plainly

How soon should I contact Rabbi Goldberg?

As soon as your son is born, or even before. The date of the bris depends on exactly when your son was born, including the time of day, so have the date and time of birth handy when you call. Rabbi Goldberg will help you determine the correct day and guide you from there.

Where can the bris be held?

Wherever your simcha is taking place: at home, in shul, or in a simcha hall. Rabbi Goldberg comes to you.

What areas do you serve?

Rabbi Goldberg is based in Far Rockaway, NY and serves families throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. He has traveled as far as Texas and Florida for brissim, and is available to travel anywhere when travel arrangements are covered by the family. See the Service Area page for details.

When should the bris take place?

The bris is a joyous event that takes place during the daytime, preferably in the early morning hours. The chosen day of the bris is considered a festive occasion.

Can a bris be performed on Shabbos or Yom Kippur?

Yes. A bris may be carried out on Shabbos or even on Yom Kippur, provided it falls on the eighth day from birth. However, if the bris had to be postponed for medical reasons such as jaundice or sickness, it cannot be performed on Shabbos or Jewish holidays. A baby delivered by Caesarean section has his bris on the eighth day from birth, as long as it does not coincide with Shabbos or Yom Tov.

What does the bris cost?

Fees are discussed personally when you call, so that every family's situation can be handled thoughtfully. There is never any pressure.

What do we need to buy before the bris?

There is a short list of supplies to have at the bris location, such as ointments, gauze pads, diapers, wine, and candles. The full checklist is on the Preparing for the Bris page, and a printable version is included in the Bris Binder.

Does the bris hurt? What is done for the baby's comfort?

This is the question on every parent's mind, and it deserves a straight answer. Rabbi Goldberg applies an anesthetic ointment to the area before starting the bris, and anesthetics are also applied to the bandage that goes on immediately after. Combined with a gentle, experienced technique refined over 750 brissim, discomfort is kept to a minimum, and most babies settle quickly afterward.

How is everything kept safe and sterile?

Every bris is prepared with meticulous care, using sterile instruments and careful technique. Rabbi Goldberg is happy to walk parents through exactly how he prepares. He also consults regularly with colleagues to ensure adherence to the highest standards of technique and care.

What is metzitzah, and what are the options?

Metzitzah is a traditional part of the bris. Rabbi Goldberg performs it according to each family's minhag and preference, whether b'peh, with a tube, or with gauze. He will discuss the options with you before the bris, together with your rav if you wish.

What follow-up care is provided?

Rabbi Goldberg visits before the bris and checks on the baby afterward. Complete aftercare instructions are provided to every family, and he remains available by call or text at any time for questions or concerns. See the Aftercare page.

What are some things I can try to soothe my baby?

• Swaddle the baby by wrapping him snugly in a receiving blanket
• Hold him on his stomach and gently pat his back
• Offer your clean pinky for him to suck on
• Gently rock him in an up-and-down motion

What if my baby has jaundice?

Jaundice is very common, and it is monitored carefully. If needed, a baby can be placed under lights to help the levels come down. The bris takes place only when the baby is ready, and a bris postponed for medical reasons is not performed on Shabbos or Yom Tov.

My baby was born prematurely. When can the bris take place?

A premature baby can have his bris once he weighs 5 pounds or more and is steadily gaining weight, always with the consent of the baby's doctor or pediatrician.

Can a bris be scheduled after the eighth day?

Yes. When a bris could not take place on the eighth day for medical reasons, it is performed as soon as the baby is medically ready. Rabbi Goldberg performs brissim for infants up to six months of age.

Do you perform brissim for adults?

No. Rabbi Goldberg performs brissim for infants up to six months of age only.

Why do we do a bris?

By commemorating your son's bris, you are upholding one of the oldest and most significant traditions of our faith. Bris milah, the covenant of circumcision, traces back almost 4,000 years, when Hashem instructed Avraham, the first Jew, to circumcise himself. Hashem established it as an eternal mitzvah, the sign of the covenant between Hashem and B'nai Yisrael. Every Jewish father is tasked with ensuring that each son born to a Jewish mother has his bris on the eighth day of life. If the father is not qualified to perform the bris himself, he designates a certified mohel as his representative.

Who was the first child to be circumcised?

The first child to have a bris at eight days old was Yitzchak, the son of Avraham and Sarah. Despite the novelty of circumcising an infant, Avraham conducted Yitzchak's bris with profound joy, and marked it with a festive gathering, a custom that endures to this day. That is why the bris has always been linked with happiness and celebration.

What is a mohel?

A mohel is a specially trained person who performs the bris. The mohel must be an expert in this important mitzvah, because if it is not done correctly, the removal of the foreskin will not be done properly. Choose a mohel who is qualified and experienced.

Why is a Jewish baby's name officially given at the bris, and not before?

Traditionally, the bris marks the complete union of the baby's body and soul. It is believed that before this, the light of the Divine soul has not fully arrived. Since the Hebrew name connects to the soul, the bris becomes the meaningful moment to bestow it. It is also customary to name children after righteous individuals, hoping their qualities will inspire the child, and the bris provides the natural opportunity to announce the chosen name with family and friends present.

Why is it important to have a minyan at the bris?

A minyan, a quorum of at least ten Jewish men over the age of thirteen, should be present throughout every step of the bris, because a larger gathering is a greater honor to Hashem and to the mitzvah.

What is the role of the sandek, and how do we choose one?

The sandek, who holds the baby during the bris, carries an honor steeped in meaning. He is believed to act as a spiritual shield and to influence the child's character. Families traditionally choose a righteous individual, often a close relative, whose values they admire and who will maintain a positive connection with the child.

What is a kvatter?

The kvatter, from the Yiddish meaning "like the father," escorts the baby to the bris, traditionally from the mother to the one holding the baby. The honor is often given to a couple awaiting children of their own, as a segulah, since by bringing the baby to his bris they act "like parents" and it is hoped they will be blessed with parenthood themselves.

What is the Shalom Zachar?

The Shalom Zachar is observed on the first Friday evening after the birth of a boy. It is a warm and welcoming gathering to celebrate the newborn's arrival, where traditional foods like chickpeas, wine, and cake are served, and blessings are given to the child and his parents.

What is the Vach Nacht?

Vach Nacht, meaning "watch night," is observed on the night before the bris. The father stays awake reciting special passages and Tehillim to safeguard the baby before the mitzvah. Small children are often invited to say Shema at the baby's bedside, along with the passage of HaMalach HaGoel. A complete guide is available on the Resources page.