The circumcision ritual has stood the test of time for thousands of years. With its divine symbolism, the circumcision ritual represents the most sacred of covenants between God and the newborn baby and the latter’s first step into the Jewish community. Generation after generation of Jewish parents has observed the circumcision ceremony on the eighth day after the baby’s birth and reveled in bringing a new believer into the Jewish faith.
But the world has changed quite a bit since Abraham’s times. Thousands of years past and fundamental changes in our world’s perception are causing some Jewish parents to reconsider their attachment to this most sacred of covenants. Research has pointed out that a tiny percentage of Jewish parents actively consider skipping ritual circumcision for their newborn sons. But how many of them understand the downsides of renouncing ritual circumcision? As Rabbi Asher Lopatin of Chicago’s Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation points out, missing out on ritual circumcision is synonymous with missing out on the most basic of Jewish identity forms.
Rabbi Avraham Rappaport, a second-generation expert mohel currently active in the MD/DC/VA area, agrees with mohels who encourage parents to have their newborn sons circumcised. Aside from ignoring their Jewish identity, uncircumcised children will have to deal with a much more complex procedure if they decide to get circumcised at an adult age. Rabbi Rappaport encourages parents to have their babies circumcised even if they want to avoid the ceremony — circumcisions are all about the baby’s well-being and not about the party!
The Circumcision Procedure Signifies a Unique Relationship with God
Imagine a select club or association, regardless of what they stand for. What is the essential aspect of being part of such a group? Membership! Membership is what separates members from ordinary people. Without membership, you cannot enjoy the privileges (and responsibilities!) provided by the group.
The same applies to newborn babies and the Jewish faith. Jewish tradition believes that by being born to Jewish parents or a Jewish mother, the child is Jewish. But being born to Jewish parents is not enough to ensure the child’s membership in the Jewish faith; the newborn baby has to be circumcised in order to enter into the covenant with God. The circumcision act becomes the irrevocable sign of membership in the Jewish faith.
The Circumcision Procedure Can Be Accomplished without a Ceremony
Therefore, if the circumcision procedure is paramount to the newborn baby’s covenant with God, why do some parents avoid it? The reasons are various, ranging from a lack of religiosity and a disconnect from their heritage to a reluctance to organize the circumcision ceremony.
But these are not reasons enough for parents to reconsider the circumcision ceremony. In fact, Rabbi Rappaport encourages all parents who are uncomfortable with the circumcision ritual to overlook it entirely and strictly focus on the medical procedure. After all, the ceremony is more of the shine, more of the flair of the event, but the essence is the procedure being done with the intent of the baby entering the covenant. Through the circumcision procedure, the baby will become a member of the Jewish community who, maybe, will impact all future generations of Jewish believers!
There’s Always a Benefit to the Circumcision Procedure
Are you dreading the big family gathering? Are you not comfortable with your baby’s diaper being open in public? Any self-respecting mohel will work to help parents overcome their anxiety and enjoy their newborn son’s circumcision. However, if the parents are adamant about skipping the circumcision ceremony, it is the mohel’s responsibility to stick to the medical procedure.
A fundamental reason why all Jewish parents should consider circumcising their newborn sons has to do not with the present but with the future. It’s always possible that uncircumcised babies might want to undergo a circumcision procedure at an adult age to celebrate this most sacred of covenants. Although no age is too late for circumcision, the older you get, the more complex the circumcision procedure becomes. It’s safe to say that some things must be done at the right time, and circumcision is one of them.
Why Undergo the Circumcision Procedure at a Young Age?
Both mohels and medical professionals recommend that children undergo the circumcision procedure during their infancy, preferably close to the eighth day after birth. Research has shown that the rate of circumcision complications increased 20-fold when performed on children one to nine years of age and 10-fold on children older than 10. Therefore, Rabbi Rappaport strongly urges parents to consider the circumcision procedure for their newborn sons as early as possible, preferably on the eighth day after birth.
Choose Rabbi Rappaport for a Perfect Circumcision Experience!
Rabbi Rappaport is more than ready to put his expert mohel training at your newborn son’s service! Unparalleled training and mastery of the circumcision field recommend him as the optimal mohel choice for Bris Milah ceremonies in the MD/DC/VA area. Thousands of successful circumcisions and grateful families helped build Rabbi Rappaport’s expert mohel reputation! So don’t hesitate to contact Rabbi Rappaport and allow him to help your newborn baby enjoy his first covenant with a perfect experience! We also invite you to read or write a review of your experience with Rabbi Rappaport!
“We have had two sons, and Rabbi Rappaport has performed the circumcision for each – and we cannot imagine anyone else leading this important milestone. After the Rabbi performed our nephew’s circumcision, we knew he was the right person for us. It’s not just a medical procedure for him. He personalizes each one and provides genuine care for each set of parents. He promises a perfect experience for your baby boy, and it has been just that every time – if we are blessed with another son, we know who to call!” – Joshua, Julianna, Richard, Simone, and Henry.
Let Rabbi Rappaport do the job if you plan to organize a ritual circumcision for yourself or your child. Contact him anytime on his cell at: 443-790-6541. You can also send him an email at rabbi@mdmohel.com or visit his website. He will be happy to support you in making sure you have a perfect experience!
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