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Bringing Newborn Jewish Boys Into the Covenant Abraham, father of the Jewish nation, and the recipient of the commandment for the Brit Milah, the circumcision, is the first Jewish father to fulfill the mitzvah. And indeed, Abraham circumcised his son Isaac on the eighth day after birth. A Brit ceremony must be scheduled between sunrise and sunset, however, since it is preferable to perform mitzvot with alacrity, it is customary to schedule a Brit as early in the day as possible. Generally Brit Milah celebrations at the Synagogue follow the morning services. Explanations for the Torah's specification of the eighth day include a midrashic source that teaches that God had pity on the child and waited until he had the physical strength to undergo the rite. (Devarim Rabbah 6:1) Also, it is suggested that a Shabbat passes between the birth and the Brit, providing the newborn with spiritual strength. Interestingly, medical studies find that major clotting factors are at peak (higher than any other time in a person's lifetime) on the eighth day after birth. The day of birth counts as the first day, hence a boy born after sunset on a Sunday but before sunset on a Monday will be circumcised the following Monday. A Brit may not be performed on a sick child and must be postponed until he has fully recovered. The Mohel (the circumciser) determines readiness of baby for the Brit, often with doctor consultation. A Brit delayed for any reason, a Brit for the purpose of conversion, and a Brit for a baby born by Caesarean section may not take place on the Sabbath or a festival. A Brit on Shabbat Rosh Hashanah: Yom Kippur: Sukkot: Purim: Tisha B'Av:
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