At 31, I Underwent a Brit Milah and Discovered a Shocking Revelation

Ten days have passed since Yaakov (formerly Anton) Konukhov underwent a Brit Milah, and when speaking with him about it, the intense excitement in his voice is palpable.

"I'm thirty-one years old," he says with an emotional tone, "As a baby, I didn't undergo Brit Milah because it was right after the Iron Curtain was lifted, and my parents were not aware of its importance. Over the years, I figured a day would come when I'd undergo Brit Milah. I understood its significance. But there were always good reasons to postpone. I was busy, it wasn't convenient, and yes – I was a bit apprehensive. True, I was familiar with the Jewish community in Moscow led by Rabbi Sender Katz and his wife, Rebbetzin Sarah. I was very connected to them, but from there to actually having a Brit Milah? That was still a distant notion."

He takes a deep breath before revealing the exciting turn of events in his life that led not only to undergo Brit Milah but also to another extraordinary discovery.

From Russia to Egypt, and from Egypt to Israel

"I never thought I'd leave Moscow," Konukhov notes, "I have family there and a stable job. But then the war broke out and changed everything. True, Russia is not Ukraine; it wasn't as if our lives were in direct danger, but at some point, I realized I needed to leave, urgently."

At that time, he didn't know where he was headed and decided to fly to Egypt to consider his next steps. So he flew from Moscow to Port Said and from there took a long bus ride to Cairo. "When I arrived in Cairo, I was surprised to hear that Yom Kippur was beginning that night. I hadn’t been aware of it at all," he says, with tears in his eyes.

According to him, Yom Kippur always held great significance for him. "In Moscow, both observant Jews and those distant throughout the year would come to the community synagogue. Everyone fasted, donned tallitot, and there was a serious atmosphere. I never hesitated about observing Yom Kippur; it was a given. But this time, due to all the events, I hadn't realized this date was approaching. I felt such turmoil upon realizing Yom Kippur would soon begin. At that moment, I stopped everything; it was clear I wouldn’t travel or proceed anywhere. I searched for a Jewish community and found none. Through the internet, I located an address for a synagogue, but upon arrival, it was locked. In the end, I prayed alone and truly felt my prayers ascending. One thing I realized during that day was that I had no doubt about where I intended to live – I want to move to Israel. That is my goal."

Immediately after Yom Kippur, he contacted various parties who referred him to a rabbi in Jerusalem – Rabbi Yitzchak Groisman, who assists new immigrants from Russia and Ukraine. He guided him on everything required and helped logistically. "From Cairo, I traveled to Taybe," Konukhov details, "from there I continued to the border and then to Eilat. From Eilat, I traveled directly to Jerusalem."

"The journey was long, exhausting, but very interesting," he explains, "Throughout the journey, I talked with Rabbi Groisman, and discovered he knows my rabbi from Moscow and the entire community. We had a long conversation. He was very interested in what was happening in Moscow, and I was curious about events in Israel. At some point, we discussed the subject of Brit Milah, and he asked in astonishment – 'How have you not done it?' When he heard my hesitations, he personally shared cases of people who underwent circumcision at a later age. I also stayed with him over Sukkot, and the topic came up again. What initially seemed distant and impossible to me suddenly became logical. On the first night after the festival, I informed the rabbi I was ready to undergo the Brit at the earliest possible time, and so, on Wednesday, Chol Hamoed Sukkot, we traveled to the clinic of 'Brit Yosef Yitzchak' in Bat Yam, and I underwent the Brit."

But how is it that you changed your mind after so many years?

"I just felt a strong sense of closeness to Hashem. I felt that after Hashem saved me from the war in Russia and literally guided me to Israel in a miraculous way – I had to thank Him for it, and not just thank, but fulfill Hashem's commandment on His land."

An Astonishing Discovery on the Way to the Brit

But the story doesn’t end there. Yaakov notes that when he was on the way to the clinic in Bat Yam, he talked to Rabbi Groisman and casually mentioned his family. "I told him I'm the firstborn to my parents, and the rabbi literally leaped and exclaimed: 'If so, you need to undergo a Pidyon Haben and not just Brit Milah.' He asked some questions to verify if a Pidyon was indeed required, and it quickly turned out that a Kohen needed to be brought to the clinic. It was all so confusing, yet very exciting." Yaakov pauses for a moment. It seems that the excitement has not left him yet. "Unlike a baby whose father redeems him, I redeemed myself. They explained every word of the text I needed to say, and thus I underwent Brit Milah and Pidyon on the same day."

The celebratory meal held afterward was, according to him, special and full of meaning. "The organization's staff and the rabbi who accompanied me all the way participated in the meal. It was essentially a double celebration – both for the Brit and for the Pidyon. We then traveled to Modiin Illit, where we also organized a meal for the community members."

Currently, about ten days after the Brit, Yaakov mentions he is completely recovered. "Contrary to my great fears – I feel wonderful and have returned to complete normal functioning. But there is something in my heart that has changed – I feel a closer connection to all Jews, and also to everything related to Judaism. Additionally, I feel more desire and connection to the land and Israel. It's now clear to me beyond any doubt – I'm staying here, I don't intend to return to Russia at any point, I say this with certainty."

He also has a message for anyone reading the article and is at a crossroads regarding Brit Milah: "Do not hesitate like I did, just get up and take action – trust the right professionals and the Master of the Universe. In the end, only good will come out of it, I assure you."