Rabbi Shlomo Shochet: "Parents Spend a Fortune on Hall, DJ, and Photographer, but Choose the Mohel Based on Price"

The month of Kislev is already in full swing, with children in kindergartens singing about the Greeks and Maccabees. When speaking with Rabbi Shlomo Shochet, he cannot help but recall a very special brit milah he performed during this season in... Athens.

"It was many years ago when I was requested by the Prime Minister's Office to perform the circumcision for the son of a Mossad agent stationed in Athens at that time," Rabbi Shochet recounts. "The place was considered a hotbed for terrorist organizations, so I was asked by security personnel to keep a low profile. I remember my stay there as filled with tension, mystery, and great excitement. Almost the entire staff of the embassy and Israelis living in Athens attended the brit, but it was also exciting because there hadn't been a single brit in Athens for four years. After performing the mitzvah, I stood up to speak and told the audience things different from what I usually say at brit milahs. I mentioned that one of the decrees issued by the Greek Empire against the Jewish people was the annulment of the brit milah, and I noted the symbolism in the fact that this child was entering the covenant of Abraham so close to Chanukah, right in Greece itself. This, I told them, is proof that in the ongoing battle between the Torah of Israel and Greek culture, the Torah of Israel prevails."

Brit on the knees of Rabbi Kanievsky

This brit, which Rabbi Shochet recounts with excitement, is just one of the thousands he has been privileged to perform over the years on babies in Israel and around the world. He has also been invited by a wide spectrum of the Jewish community – from those in Mea Shearim and Breslov, to ba'alei teshuva, Lithuanian yeshiva students, Chassidim, Hesder yeshiva graduates, as well as doctors, academics, and members of kibbutzim, both Ashkenazi and Sephardic.

The Tenth Generation of Mohels

In addition to his role as a mohel, Rabbi Shochet also serves as the official supervisor of mohels on behalf of the Chief Rabbinate and the Ministry of Health. A survey by the Mako channel includes him as one of the leading mohel (experts) in Israel for the year 5777.

Brit on the knees of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

"I feel a true mission in the profession I am engaged in," notes Rabbi Shochet, "especially as I continue the rich heritage of my ancestors who were involved in this sacred art. My son, Rabbi Moshe, who also performs circumcisions, is the tenth generation of mohels. It's no wonder we are so connected to the profession since my father, Rabbi Shimon Shochet, became a legend and a benchmark of quality and excellence in the field. He instilled in us the most important foundations from a halakhic perspective, alongside strict hygiene and sterilization conditions akin to a standard operating room."

Many parents are hesitant about which mohel to choose before the brit. What should they really consider when choosing a mohel? What will influence their choice?

"The art of brit milah requires extensive halakhic and medical knowledge and a great deal of skill," explains Rabbi Shochet. "Therefore, it's important that the mohel has a valid certification that testifies to his qualifications and rank - certified or expert. In hospitals across the country, lists of certified mohels under government supervision are displayed. You can also call the National Circumcision Department at 02-5313141 to verify if the mohel's license is valid."

Rabbi Shochet performing a brit on the knees of Rabbi Scheinberg

Rabbi Shochet emphasizes: "Don't hesitate to ensure that the mohel you invite indeed uses sterilized or disposable equipment. Furthermore, it's important to choose a mohel who can provide emotional support and be a pillar for new parents at this significant time. Treating parents with patience and support is just as important as caring for the infant. I always tell parents that the mother's peace of mind greatly influences the baby's calmness, and usually, when the parents are calm - the baby is calm."

"A responsible and serious mohel accompanies the parents before and after the brit, providing guidance and home visits as needed. Make sure the mohel you chose indeed intends to do this. I am often amazed by parents who invest hefty amounts in a fancy hall, a DJ, or a photographer, yet choose a mohel based on price. How could one choose someone for such a sensitive and responsible role just because he is cheaper or performs the brit for free?"

Studies Show: The Baby Doesn't Suffer

Of course, it's impossible to talk about brit milah without mentioning the fear of the infant's pain. But when discussing it with Rabbi Shochet, he prefers to answer with a joke: "There's a story about a non-Jew who asked a rabbi to convert him. The rabbi, realizing the non-Jew was not fit for conversion, found it hard to tell him so. The rabbi tried to dissuade him: 'It's not worthwhile for you to convert because a Jew must observe Shabbat.' But the non-Jew persisted: 'I know, and I still want to!' The rabbi continued: 'It's not worthwhile for you to convert because a Jew must observe kashrut,' yet the non-Jew insisted: 'For that purpose!' The rabbi was at a loss until he found a solution: 'You know, it's not worthwhile for you to convert because those who convert must undergo brit milah. And believe me, when they did it to me, it hurt so much that I couldn't speak for a year and a half!'"

Rabbi Shochet in a halakhic consultation with Rabbi Elyashiv

On a serious note, Rabbi Shochet adds that in recent years, there are more and more parents who, seemingly out of concern for their baby, choose to turn to a doctor-mohel. "Firstly, I want to emphasize that quite often, a brit performed by doctors isn't kosher at all, and therefore all halakhic authorities prohibit such a brit milah. Additionally, it’s known that even senior doctors, including hospital department heads, choose traditional mohels for their sons or grandsons rather than doctor-mohels. Many don't do this out of strict adherence to mitzvot but because they know the truth – a professional mohel’s authentic work outshines the imitation of the doctor-mohel. I have personally heard from them more than once that the most skilled surgeon could never compete with the work of an experienced mohel. Besides, when comparing britot performed by mohels to those by doctors, it turns out that the incidence of problems is significantly higher in doctor-performed britot. This was even scientifically proven in a research presented by Dr. Bezalel Sivan at the Israeli Society for Pediatric Medicine conference. Furthermore, in surveys conducted, it was found that in many families where the first child was circumcised by a doctor, subsequent children were circumcised by a mohel... And we haven’t even mentioned the most crucial aspect – in addition to medical knowledge, performing a brit requires comprehensive halakhic knowledge. Unfortunately, many circumcised by doctors were not circumcised properly, leaving the child uncircumcised. Unlike someone who was never circumcised, this child has no way of knowing this and remains uncircumcised without an option to choose whether or not to circumcise himself. It's impossible to estimate the disappointment and anguish parents feel when they find out they caused their son pain and drew his blood without fulfilling the mitzvah at all."

Rabbi Ovadia receiving the book

And what about anesthesia – is there a halakhic possibility to perform a brit with anesthesia on an infant?

Here, Rabbi Shochet seeks to debunk a myth: "Mohel doctors claim infant pain causes mental harm. They rely on studies conducted worldwide showing some degree of pain during a brit milah, but these studies do not relate to brit as performed by Israel's mohels for thousands of years. All research was done concerning surgical operations to remove the foreskin lasting 9 minutes or more, whereas the brit performed by an experienced mohel takes less than 10 seconds. A skilled mohel uses a sharp sterile blade, and the brit is performed causing minimal pain. Anesthesia for a brit is just a marketing gimmick designed to fill doctors' pockets (3,000 shekels and more!). It is important to note that anesthetizing a brit milah has been forbidden halakhically by authorities from all sectors."

What can be done to reduce pain nonetheless?

"The site of the brit can be numbed, significantly minimizing pain without injections. Indeed, a specialist mohel is equipped with many techniques specifically intended for this purpose. I use numerous and diverse methods in each brit, each intended to significantly reduce the baby’s pain, treating every infant as if he were my child. The results – a calm and peaceful infant, and no less important – happy and content parents. I always tell mothers still anxious about their baby’s potential pain that he suffers much less from the brit than from the gas pains that bother him in the first few months."

Brit on the knees of Rabbi Kaduri

A Complete Covenant

Despite the great significance of this mitzvah, Rabbi Shochet notes that during his years as a mohel, he has realized there is a lack of basic knowledge in the community about the subject. "After giving classes on this topic to avrechim, I was surprised to discover how unfamiliar the world of brit milah was to them. Surprisingly, this was true even for many scholars who attended the classes. I remember after one class, a well-known scholar approached me and said, 'You should know, I have already had ten of my sons, and several of my grandsons enter the covenant of Abraham - and until today, I didn’t know what exactly is done in a brit.'"

Rabbi Kanievsky reviewing the book Milah Shleimah

This is also the reason why, in recent years, Rabbi Shochet published his book 'Milah Shleimah – A Guide for the Parents of the Infant', where the mitzvah of brit milah is described practically, in legend and law, with detailed explanations and computer-illustrated depictions. The monumental book won first prize in the Ministry of Health's competition for medical-halakhic quality books and became a bestseller in its field. The book contains special prayers for the brit attendees, practical guidelines and reminders for the 'Eight Days of Brit', the heart's preparation for fulfilling the mitzvah, choosing the baby's name, selecting the sandak, place and time of the brit, planning honors, rules and customs of the feast, treatment of the infant, amulets and charms for the protection of the mother and baby, and more. "The book is intended primarily for parents, but also for anyone interested in this wondrous mitzvah," concludes Rabbi Shochet. Without a doubt, it truly is a wonderful mitzvah."

Brit on the knees of Rabbi Bnaiyahu Shmueli