"He Stopped Me and Knocked on My Window: 'Are You the Holy Rabbi?' I Was Shocked"

"It's a common belief that every Jew undergoes brit milah," says Rabbi Avraham Kadosh, head of the 'WorldBrit' organization, which performs circumcisions for adults and infants across the globe, including in places that no mohel has ever set foot."

Rabbi Kadosh, originally from France, began his work about 15 years ago when he realized that the assumption 'every Jew is circumcised' is far from obvious. "Unfortunately, this isn't true, especially abroad, where I constantly encounter very challenging stories. People who are Jewish by birth haven't undergone brit milah, and now that the desire arises, I strive to be available to ensure it's done properly," he explains.

Anywhere in the World

"This can happen in any family," emphasizes Rabbi Kadosh, "but I mostly find it in mixed families, where one parent is non-Jewish and the other is Jewish. In France, unfortunately, around 70% of families are like this due to high assimilation rates. In such families, especially when the mother is Jewish and the father is not, it's common for the father to oppose the child's circumcision, resulting in a Jewish child growing up uncircumcised. This phenomenon has become more prevalent over the years, as previously, there was respect among such couples, and if the mother requested, the father would usually agree. Now it's different, and sometimes the mother herself comes from a mixed background and knows little about her Jewish heritage."

What prompts these adults to suddenly decide they want to undergo brit milah?

"There is no single answer. Sometimes it's triggered by lectures I give, as I travel the world delivering talks on the subject. Every Shabbat abroad, I visit several synagogues and emerge with at least 15 new circumcisions. People often tell me, 'It's not relevant here; everyone is circumcised,' but that's not accurate at all.

"There are also young people from assimilated families who feel like they don't belong, ashamed to enter a synagogue because they're not recognized as Jews, yet they know they aren't non-Jewish either, even though they don't observe any mitzvot. When they realize they can undergo brit milah, even at their age, they often take advantage of the opportunity because they feel something is missing from their lives linked to the brit and can't even explain what it is. Each time I hear these stories, I understand how crucial it is to speak about this topic openly. This is why, in addition to lectures, I also engage through radio and television features worldwide, and I've written a book in French with numerous stories highlighting the importance of brit milah, including many moving cases I've personally encountered."

From Chile to Judaism

One of the unforgettable incidents occurred when Rabbi Kadosh visited southern France, where he grew up. "It was about ten years since my last visit," he recalls. "Every street and building brought back memories. Lost in thought, I was startled when someone knocked on my car window. They asked, 'Are you Rabbi Kadosh?' I confirmed, and they excitedly shared their story. They had come from Chile, trained with a major aircraft company, and started working in Toulouse as an engineer. He was Jewish, and his wife wanted him to have a brit milah, but he didn't know how or where to go about it. 'I tried researching online,' he said, 'and discovered your lectures. I realized you're a serious person, decided to contact you, and here you are, right in front of me.'

There is more to this remarkable story. Rabbi Kadosh mentions that cars around started honking, so he took the man's contact information. However, when he later tried calling, the number was incorrect. "I was so disappointed," he recalls, "but fate had other plans. Miraculously, we met in a synagogue that Shabbat. Things quickly progressed, he underwent brit milah, grew closer to Judaism, had a Jewish wedding, and now lives in a Haredi neighborhood in London with children attending a Torah school. During the brit, I had to lead him in reading the Shema one verse at a time since he didn't know it himself.

"And he's not the only one," stresses Rabbi Kadosh, "for brit milah profoundly connects a person to Hashem and inspires a rebirth. These aren't just words; it's a truth I witness repeatedly. Especially those circumcised as adults feel a unique connection and enlightenment, often seeking to delve deeper into Judaism afterward. I make it a point to stay in contact with each individual upon whom I perform brit milah and offer support. One of my greatest joys is being invited to the brit milah of their children, a second generation that enters the Covenant of Avraham on the eighth day after almost losing connection to this mitzvah entirely."

A Stand-in for 20 Minutes

Rabbi Kadosh highlights that one challenge making people hesitate about brit milah is the cost. "It's about 1000 euros per brit, generally without any government subsidies. We don't want financial concerns to deter people, so we rely heavily on donations. Some donors have the honor of standing in as the sandak during the ceremony, which is very emotional. While the role of the sandak in a child's brit is brief, with adults, it's about 20 minutes long, during which the sandak stands beside the chair of Elijah the Prophet, with prayers ascending directly to the heavenly throne. We've witnessed miracles and great wonders from being a sandak in a brit, like the recovery of the sick or couples finally blessed with children. It moves us every single time."

Currently, Rabbi Kadosh resides in Jerusalem but travels worldwide for his duties upon invitation. "Over the years, we've established a network of clinics throughout Europe, initially starting in France, extending to Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and now expanding to Spain, Italy, and more countries. We also operate in Israel. As mentioned, our goal extends beyond performing brit milah to supporting individuals after the procedure. Part of this effort includes a website with 1000 courses on various Jewish topics for different levels. Watching the transformations in people, who appear so different from when I first met them, always amazes me. I've seen young adults in their 20s starting families, and people in their 40s and 50s radically changing their lives to observe mitzvot. I've even accompanied a Holocaust survivor who underwent brit milah at age 86, and the tears he shed while reciting Shehecheyanu are indescribable. It's such a great privilege, truly rescuing entire generations."

Are you looking for a mohel, or do you know a Jew who hasn't undergone brit milah? Please contact 0547006122