Questions To Choose The Right Mohel

Mohel Alon Lavian’s Answers

1. I do the ברית מילה up to jaundice level 12, from 12-18 I wait for it to go down to 12, but I don’t wait 7 days מעת לעת. From 18 and on I wait 7 days מעת לעת from the time he goes down to 12.

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it’s important to ask this question because different mohalim have different ways to view jaundice, and you want to choose the mohel that does what you (and שו״ע) want. Second, I came across mohalim that don’t know what jaundice is, and if you choose that mohel, you are setting yourself up for failure.

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2. I know how to check the Jaundice level with my naked eye, but not the exact number (for example, if the baby has 11.9, it would look like 12 for me…), so when it gets to border line I would ask for the blood test.

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If your mohel doesn’t know how to check for it with his naked eye, that’s not the end of the world, you could still use him, and do the blood test. but I personally would prefer a mohel that knows how to check for it with his naked eye, why should you hurt the child for no reason?

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3. Yes, I have ways to bring the jaundice down. Depending on how high it is, I would use different methods.

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if your mohel doesn’t know how to bring it down, that’s not the end of the world, most times it would not become so dangerous. In case that it does get too high refer to your pediatrician. I personally would prefer a mohel that knows how to bring it down.

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4. First you need to check if it’s really red, sometimes it’s not real red. If it’s red, we need to check for infection. If there is infection, you need to give the baby antibiotics. If it goes away after one or two days, no need for 7 days, if it stays red for 3 days, I wait 7 days מעת לעת from the time he became healthy.

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if your mohel doesn’t know about this, you are setting yourself up for failure,I would recommend to use a different mohel. Since doctors don’t view jaundice and red eye as danger for ברית מילה, it’s the mohel’s obligation to check for them, as our rabbis teach us that this is great danger. Any other medical issues are not the responsibility of the mohel to be an expert about them, because it would be brought up by the pediatrician.

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5. I provide the pillow, the outfit, if needed wine, and everything that’s needed to perform the ברית מילה, and to heal the baby. I don’t provide diapers, wipes, formula…

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if your mohel doesn’t provide necessary things to perform the ברית מילה or to heal the baby, that’s a big issue, I would look for a different mohel. If he doesn’t provide the pillow…, that’s ok, many mohalim don’t.

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6. I don’t use a hemostat, as it causes tremendous amount of unnecessary pain for the child. I don’t do בבת אחת, because שו״ע taught us to do פריעה בציפורן, and בבת אחת is a new thing that didn’t come from our rabbis.

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most mohalim use a hemostat nowadays, and most of them do בבת אחת. The reason that they use a hemostat is because they claim that it helps to be more precise, and once they use the hemostat they do בבת אחת because it’s easier. My claim back is: if you can’t be precise without the hemostat you should consider if it’s correct for you to be a mohel, and we don’t do מצוות because it’s easy, we do whatever ה׳ says in the best way possible. It should be noted, according to many פוסקים a ברית מילה done בבת אחת is not kosher. If your mohel uses a hemostat, or בבת אחת or both, I would recommend to use a different mohel. 

7. I don’t use the mogen clamp. I use a disposable sterile surgical scalpel that’s sharp from both side (חרב פיפיות) because I feel that medically that’s the safest to use, and in terms of הלכה it’s the best thing to use.

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unfortunately there are mohalim that use the mogen clamp. The mogen clamp causes that no blood comes out of the ברית מילה, but our rabbis taught us that blood has to come out. According to many פוסקים the ברית מילה is not kosher, so I would highly recommend not to use these mohalim.

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8. I understand that parents might be afraid of מציצה בפה, but I did research about the topic, if the parents, the mohel, and the parents of all of the babies the mohel did מציצה בפה on keep טהרת המשפחה, there is nothing to be worried about. If the parents don’t keep טהרת המשפחה I require them to do a test for all of the sicknesses that could result from that, or I don’t do מציצה בפה rather I use a tube. If you want me to get tested for the sicknesses I’ll happily do it.

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It should be noted that מציצה is a requirement by הלכה, and if a mohel doesn’t do it he’s not allowed to continue to practice. If your mohel doesn’t do מציצה you’re not allowed to use him. The best is to do מציצה בפה, but the tube is also acceptable.

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9. I have wine in my mouth when I do מציצה. It’s brought down in the פוסקים and according to קבלה it should be done, but if your mohel doesn’t do it it’s not the end of the world.

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10. I stop the bleeding by the ברית מילה and leave the baby without a bandage. I believe that this way is more safe because the bandage could potentially make the baby bleed more. When the mohel stops the bleeding and leaves the baby without a bandage, he is safe as the bleeding stopped, and from now on I teach the parents how to use the gauze pads… to heal him. If you’re mohel leaves the baby with a bandage, it’s perfectly fine, as many mohalim do it (I just prefer to leave him without a bandage).

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for any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me!