Mohel Totally Explained

Everything about Mohel totally explained

A mohel (Hebrew: מוהל) is a Jewish man who performs the Jewish ritual of Brit milah. The Conservative Movement also certifies female mohelim.

Biblical origins

For Jews, circumcision is mandatory, as it's prescribed in the Torah:

In the book of Genesis as a mark of the Covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham: "Throughout all generations, every male shall be circumcised when he's eight days old...This shall be my covenant in your flesh, an eternal covenant. The uncircumcised male whose foreskin hasn't been circumcised, shall have his soul cut off from his people; he's broken my Covenant" (External Link) (Genesis 17:1-14), and

In Leviticus: "God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites: When a woman conceives and gives birth to a boy...And on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." (External Link

) (Leviticus 12:1-3).

Functions

Biblically, the infant's father is commanded to perform the circumcision himself. However, as most fathers are not comfortable or don't have the training, they designate a mohel as a delegate. The mohel is specially trained and a specialist in circumcisions and the rituals surrounding the procedure. Many mohelim are either doctors or rabbis (and some are even both). However, all are required to receive appropriate training both from the religious and medical fields.
It is customary that, if possible, a mohel will perform his first circumcision on his own son, under the supervision of his own teacher. Even if his first circumcision isn't on his own son, if he's a son, he must perform the circumcision himself and not ask another mohel to do so.

Popular culture

Mohelim are well represented in popular culture, often in a comedic sense.
   References to circumcision on television shows include an episode of Seinfeld titled "The Bris", an episode of The Nanny titled "The Unkindest Gift", a two-part episode of Freak Show titled "Mohel-Me-Not", and an episode of South Park titled "Ike's Wee Wee". Also during NBC's Today on 2007-04-10, a guest described a certain wine bottle opener as a "foil mohel".
   In literature, Leo Rosten's book, The Joys of Yiddish, features a couple of Mohel stories.
   In film, Mel Brooks appears as the mohel mohel in Robin Hood: Men In Tights.
   Also in film, includes references to mohelim and threats of forced circumcision.
   In music, references are included in the song "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi" by Weird Al Yankovic.

Further Information

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