akhenaten said:
Thanks Kendra!
My DS12 had his done in the hospital and I was not there...
I know my Niece is planning on being in another room....
I know how important it is as a religious ceremony but it kinda freaks me
out.....
Did they use any tylenol or topical cream prior to the circumcision?
BTW I have one son and two daughters also!
Carol in NJ
We're not very religious, but I am pretty traditional. So, since I knew I'd get my son circumsized anyways, I chose to do it traditionally-- and have a bris. The mohel we had do the circumcision had done probably 1/2 the Jewish community in that area (very large), so I trusted him. HOWEVER. . . I don't think he used a topical anesthetic, but he did give my son a little wine. I really wished he used a topical anesthetic. But, I'll be honest with you-- I don't think it would have helped. The only thing that probably would have helped would have been an injectible lidocaine or something like that.
It is QUICK. Very very fast. But, very horrible, because you know the baby is absolutely not having an easy time with it, no matter what anybody says.
Afterwards, they give you a topical cream (I don't remember the name of it) that is petroleum based. Probably neosporin or something similar. And, he had no complications. If you had your son's done in the hospital, I bet you it's probably very similar. Although everyone seems to prefer a hospital setting, I have to tell you that they often tie down the babies so they don't squirm. I'm not sure that the hospital setting-- with or without lidocaine-- is better.
It sort of freaks me out, too. And, because (as I said) I'm not very religious, I really was practically debating what I should do. In the end, I decided YES, I'm Jewish, I'll have a bris. And, you just do it. I also wanted my son to look like my husband (uh, if you know what I mean).
TheOtherVillainess said:
Wait a second...Jewish people have a circumcison party?
*note--I am not anti-Semitic. It just sounds really, really wierd to me, that's all. I mean I realize we celebrate a lot of things in every day life, like birthdays and christenings and confirmations of baptisms (if you're Catholic or Lutheran). But I've never heard of somebody celebrating a circumcision before. Hey..ya learn something new every day, right? 
*
TOV
The Other Villainess-- I don't think you're anti-semitic for asking a question! So, let me explain what the bris-- or brit malah is about. According to Torah,
God [then] said to Abraham, 'As far as you are concerned, you must keep My covenant - you and your offspring throughout their generations. This is My covenant between Me, and between you and your offspring that you must keep: You must circumcise every male. You shall be circumcised through the flesh of your foreskin. This shall be the mark of the covenant between Me and you. 'Throughout all generations, every male shall be circumcised when he is eight days old. . . . This shall be My covenant in your flesh, an eternal covenant. The uncircumcised male whose foreskin has not been circumcised, shall have his soul cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.' Genesis 17:1-14[1]
So, on the eighth day, we have a bris which is celebratory in the sense that we are confirming his/our covenant with God. We are also welcoming the little boy into Judaism.
Also, you really can find a Mazel Tov card at Walgreens, usually.
