Amohelis a person who performs ritual Jewish circumcisions. They are required to have both religious and surgical training and while traditionally they were almost always men, these days women are also being trained.
It’s normal to be a little nervous about circumcising your son, and knowing more about the procedure and themohelcan help you feel more comfortable. So, here are some questions to ask as you get ready for your son’sbris.
1. What is your background and training?
Determine whether themohelis part of a nationalmohelorganization, and whether he has undergone proper training. Certainmohelsare also doctors, which some parents prefer. Make sure that if yourmohelis also a doctor, that he has a current medical license and is board certified. In addition, you’ll want to know how many circumcisions yourmohelhas performed, and how often he performs them.
2. How do you sterilize medical instruments?
Be sure yourmohelfollows proper medical protocols, including sterilization through autoclave and use of surgical gloves.
3. Is there any preparation that you perform on the baby? Do you recommend the use of anesthesia?
You’ll want to know if themohel准备婴儿用酒,糖水,或nesthetic cream. There is a debate about the use of topical anesthetic cream in the circumcision world. Some say that it helps babies relax and stay calm because they do not feel the pain as much. Others say that the cream can cause problems, including redness and swelling that make it more difficult to achieve a proper circumcision. Discuss this with yourmohel.
4. What techniques do you use for the circumcision? Is the baby restrained on a board? Do you use a clamp?
Somemohelsuse a board to be sure the child stays in one place during the circumcision. Others place the child on a pillow and have a relative hold the baby’s legs. For the ritual cut itself,mohelsuse different kinds of clamps and shields, which hold the penis in place in order to make the cutting easier and more precise. Certain clamps are also reported to prevent some potential pain. You want to be sure that what yourmoheldoes makes you feel comfortable.
5.你的美元政策是什么etzitzah (suctioning)?
The wordmetzitzahmeans suctioning and is a practice which draws blood away from the wound. It can be done using gauze or by mouth (metzitzah b’peh).Metzitzahhas provoked controversy in recent years; there were a few cases of herpes contracted by babies within the New York ultra-Orthodox community whenmetzitzahwas done by mouth. Therefore, it’s important to find out what yourmohelplans to do and be sure that his method makes you comfortable.
6. Are you comfortable working with interfaith couples? With same-sex couples? With multiracial couples? With adopted children?
Be sure yourmohelknows your concerns and addresses them. If you feel uncomfortable, then he might not be themohelfor you.
7. Please describe the ceremony for me.
Beyond the ritual cut, there is significantly more to the ceremony ofbrit milah. Yourmohelmight ask you to talk about the name you’ve chosen for your son, to choose individuals to have different honors during the ceremony, and to think about what your goals are for the ceremony.
8. What supplies do I need to have for the bris? What, if anything, should I do to prepare my baby for the bris? What kind of after-care will I need to do?
It’s just good to know what you will need to have to take care of your baby before, during, and after thebris. That way you can be sure everything has been purchased and is in your home.
9. What is your fee structure? Do you have references that I can call?
The range in major cities like New York seems to be between $600 and $800, and manymohelshave a sliding scale. It is always a good idea to speak with references to help figure out if thismohelis the right choice for you. Speak with at least one or two people who have used thismohelin the past.
10. What if you aren’t available when I schedule my son’s bris?
因为你不能给mohelmore than eight days of advance notice, it’s hard to guarantee that he’ll be available when you need him. Ask him if he has a back-up plan in case he’s busy.
