How to Hire a Bris Mohel

Traditionally, parents hire a mohel to perform a bris. A mohel is usually a rabbi who has received medical and religious training specific to performing a bris. With the right research, you can hire a trained, patient mohel who will treat you and your baby with kindness and care.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Hire a Bris Mohel

1. Talk to the administrators at your local synagogue to get a reference for a mohel. If a family has had a bad experience with a mohel, someone at their synagogue is sure to tell you to avoid that person. You can also visit the Find a Mohel Web site for a referral if you are unable to find a suitable one locally (see Resources below).
2. Meet with the mohel before the bris, if possible. Ask what kind of training she has had and what kind of instruments she uses during the procedure.
3. Ask the mohel to talk you through the ceremony. If you have never seen a bris before, learn about the ceremony before you speak with the mohel by visiting the eBris Web site (see Resources below).
4. Ask what kind of clamp he uses during the circumcision. Most mohels use a Mogen clamp, which has been shown to stress the baby out less than the Gomco clamp. The procedure also takes seconds with a Mohel clamp, while a Gomco clamp can lengthen the procedure into minutes.
5. Request to see references or letters of endorsement. An experienced mohel should not take this request personally, realizing that a circumcision is essentially surgery and a parent should exercise great caution when preparing for the medical aspects of the bris.
6. Speak with other families to find out what they gave to their mohel. Traditionally, mohels are not paid for their services, but donations to their synagogue or another bris or funds to cover their travel expenses are usually welcomed.

Tips & Warnings

• Mohels usually bring their own surgical equipment, but may need you to purchase some items as well. Ask what the mohel will need you to provide before the bris ceremony.
• Beware the mohel who says he has never had a complication during a bris. Complications usually happen randomly and are easy to deal with, and just about every mohel has had at least one. A mohel who hasn't may be lying or inexperienced.

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