Brit milah

Brit milah is the Jewish covenantal rite of circumcision, traditionally performed on a male infant on the eighth day after birth. It marks the covenant between God and Abraham as understood in Jewish tradition.

Mohel: A person trained and authorized in Jewish law and practice to perform circumcision. The mohel traditionally performs the circumcision and guides the ritual.
Abrahamic covenant: The covenant between God and Abraham described in the Hebrew Bible. Jewish tradition grounds circumcision in this covenant.
Covenant: A solemn binding agreement, often understood in religious traditions as a relationship between God and a people. Brit milah is framed as the physical sign of a covenant.
Jewish identity: The personal and collective identification associated with Jewish peoplehood, religion, culture, or ancestry. Brit milah has long served as a visible marker of Jewish belonging.
Mitzvah: A commandment or religious duty in Jewish tradition. Brit milah is understood as fulfillment of a divine commandment.
Genesis 17: A chapter of Genesis that commands circumcision as a sign of God's covenant with Abraham. It is the central biblical passage establishing the rite.
Jewish law: The body of religious rules and interpretations governing Jewish practice and conduct. It determines the rite's obligations, timing, and exceptions.
Jewish diaspora: The dispersion of Jewish communities beyond the land of Israel and their histories across regions. Communities have maintained the rite across diverse societies and legal settings.
Hatafat dam brit: A symbolic drawing of a drop of blood performed when circumcision is not required or possible. This procedure can establish covenantal status when the foreskin is already absent.
Leviticus 12: A chapter of Leviticus that prescribes circumcision of a male infant on the eighth day. Its timing rule is the basis for the traditional eighth-day observance.

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CircumcisionBroader topic: It gives circumcision a central role in Jewish religious practice.