mohel/urologist

I don't know one, but am curious if you are doing the circumcision in the hospital or not. I am waiting for my son to come home from Guatemala and am trying to figure out what I will do about it. I am planning on doing it in the hospital with anesthesia and then having a bris later.

My son Nathan had his surgical circumcision done the in the hospital then a Hatafat Dam Brit done in the home once he was fully healed so that we could share this happy ocassion with our family. I had talked to a Mohel however who offered to go the hospital when it was being done - some urologists will allow the Mohel in the operating room during this procedure. But, since Nathan was also having a more complicated procedure in addition to the circ, I decided it was best not to do it. The Hatafat Dam Brit was a beautiful service, the Mohel was wonderful and very kind and gentle with my son. He only did a slight pin prick and Nathan never even cried. I know that this Mohel does many services in the area and surrounding states. If you would like his contact info (he is based in MD) just PM me.

With a child who is not a newborn, circumcision should be performed in a hospital, under anesthesia. You will have two options for a "kosher" circumcision: 1. Find a physician in your area who is certified as a mohel and who has hospital privileges. All of the branches of Judaism have physician mohelim; the Reform movement even certifies females as physician mohelot. You can find a physician mohel by asking rabbis in the branch of Judaism that interests you. You don't have to be a member of a particular congregation to call a rabbi at that synagogue. He/she will usually be delighted to recommend someone, if he/she knows of one. The physician mohel will perform the circumcision in the hospital, with appropriate ritual. The good part about using a physician mohel is that the person is likely to be very well trained, both medically and ritually. The bad part is that family members probably won't be able to be in the operating room to witness the ceremony. (Check to see if the parents can attend.) But you can have a party to celebrate your son's entry into the covenant at a later date, with a healthy, happy, circumcised baby in attendance. 2. You can have a urologist who is not a mohel do the circumcision in the hospital without ritual, and then follow up with a ceremony, once the child has healed, that can be held at home, called "hatafat dam brit". This ceremony involves drawing a tiny drop of blood from the circumcision site, and can be done by any mohel in your community. It is fully accepted by even the most Orthodox, if done by an acceptable mohel. The good part of this option is that hatafat dam brit allows the whole family to participate in the symbolic circumcision and enjoy a good party. The bad part is that it's a two step process, requiring payments to both a surgeon and a mohel. Either way you choose, congratulations on adopting a son and bringing him into the covenant. Sharon