OUR GUIDES10 min read
The Complete Brit Milah Guide
Everything new parents need to know — from choosing a Mohel to the festive meal, step by step. With Israel-specific practical tips
8Days after birth
30-100Average guests
₪5K-20KAverage total cost
15-20 minCeremony duration
₪1.5K-4KMohel cost
3-7 daysRecovery time
Step 1
Choosing a Mohel
The Mohel is the central figure in the Brit. Choosing a professional and experienced Mohel is the most important decision — the baby's health comes first. In Israel there are hundreds of certified Mohalim, and it's important to know how to choose wisely.
Types of Mohalim in Israel
There are two main types: a traditional Mohel (religious training + practical experience) and a doctor-Mohel (physician with Brit Milah certification). A doctor-Mohel can administer local anesthesia and provides full medical supervision. Both types are certified and safe.
Mohel costs in Israel
Traditional Mohel: ₪1,500-₪3,000. Doctor-Mohel: ₪2,500-₪4,000. Some Kupot Cholim (Maccabi, Clalit) subsidize doctor-Mohalim — check with your health fund. The price typically includes: pre-Brit visit, equipment, the ceremony itself, and a follow-up visit.
How to verify certification
Ask to see a certified Mohel certificate from the Chief Rabbinate. Doctor-Mohalim also need a medical license. Don't hesitate to ask for references from previous parents. Websites like mohel.co.il and brit.org.il list certified Mohalim.
Pre-Brit consultation with the Mohel
Discuss: anesthesia method (EMLA cream, sucrose, local anesthesia), ceremony style (long/short, Sephardi/Ashkenazi), what's included in the price, availability for post-Brit questions.
Timing — don't wait!
The Brit is on day 8 — no flexibility (except for medical reasons). Popular Mohalim are booked up. Contact one before birth, or immediately after. During busy weeks (September-October) there may be a shortage.
Pro Tip
Pro tip: Want complete peace of mind? Choose a doctor-Mohel. Want a warm traditional experience? An experienced Mohel with thousands of Brits behind him is an excellent choice. Either way — check references.
Step 2
Pre-Brit Preparations
You only have 8 days to prepare, and you're also new parents who haven't slept in 3 nights! Here's an organized checklist so you don't forget anything.
Choosing a venue
Options: at home (most common for small Brit, 20-40 people), synagogue (traditional, usually free), hall/restaurant (for larger Brits of 60+ people), garden venue (in summer). Most Brits in Israel are held at home or in a synagogue — intimate, warm and comfortable for the baby.
Elijah's Chair (Kisei shel Eliyahu)
The Mohel usually brings Elijah's Chair (a special decorated chair). Make sure there's an organized space for the ceremony: a comfortable chair for the Sandak, a small table for the Mohel's equipment, good lighting. Prepare a cushion or thick blanket for the Sandak.
Preparation checklist
✓ Mohel confirmed and coordinated ✓ Venue organized and clean ✓ Catering/food ordered ✓ Enough chairs for guests ✓ Wine for Kiddush ✓ Comfortable baby outfit (open at the bottom) ✓ Diapers and spare clothes ✓ Camera/photographer ✓ Invitations sent
Inviting guests
WhatsApp, phone, or digital invitation is sufficient. Specify: date, exact time, address, parking, whether there's a meal. Typical: 30-100 guests. Don't forget to invite the Sandak, Kvatter/Kvatterin, and close family members early enough.
Digital invitations →Photography
Want to capture the moment? A professional photographer knows how to photograph a Brit sensitively, without flash and without disruption. A short video is also worth gold. If not — ask a close friend to film on their phone.
Brit photographers →Pro Tip
Pro tip: Prepare most things before birth — list of Mohalim, preferred venue, catering. After birth, especially after a C-section, there's no energy to organize. Let family help!
Step 3
The Ceremony — Step by Step
The Brit Milah ceremony follows a traditional order preserved for thousands of years. The ceremony is short (15-20 minutes) but powerful. Here's exactly what happens.
Entering with the baby — the Kvatter
The Kvatterin (usually a close female relative — grandmother, aunt) brings the baby from the mother's room. The Kvatter (male) receives the baby and passes to the Mohel. This is a great honor — choose meaningful people.
Elijah's Chair
The baby is placed briefly on Elijah's Chair — a tradition that the Prophet Elijah is present at every Brit. The Mohel says: 'This is the chair of Elijah the Prophet, may he be remembered for good.'
The Sandak receives the baby
The Sandak ('master of the Brit') sits and holds the baby on his lap. This is the most honored role. The Sandak needs to sit steady and hold firmly — the Mohel will guide him exactly.
Blessings and the circumcision
The Mohel blesses 'al ha-milah,' the father blesses 'to enter him into the covenant of Abraham our father.' The Mohel performs the circumcision (a matter of seconds). The audience says: 'Just as he entered the covenant, so may he enter Torah, marriage and good deeds.'
Naming and Kiddush
The Mohel (or Rabbi) recites the blessing over wine and announces the baby's name. This is the most emotional moment! The parents choose the name in advance. Drops of wine are placed on the baby's lips (tradition).
Conclusion and festive meal
Mazal Tov! The ceremony is over. The baby is returned to the mother, immediately to nurse/feed and soothe. Guests proceed to the Seudat Mitzvah (festive meal). Toasting, blessings, joy.
Pro Tip
Pro tip: Not sure what to expect? Ask the Mohel for a brief explanation before the ceremony. Good Mohalim explain each step in real time to the audience, and this helps parents and guests feel comfortable.
Step 4
Choosing the Baby's Name
Choosing a name is one of the most significant decisions. In Israel, the name is announced for the first time at the Brit ceremony. Here's what you should know.
Ashkenazi tradition
Names are given after a deceased relative — grandfather, grandmother, or a close family member who passed away. Names are not given after living people. The purpose: to perpetuate the memory of the deceased and continue their name.
Sephardi/Mizrachi tradition
Names can also be given after living people — a living grandfather, a respected rabbi. This is a great honor! In many Sephardi families, the firstborn is named after the paternal grandfather.
Double names
Common in Israel to give a double name: a first name (everyday name) + second name (memorial name). For example: 'Eitan Yosef,' 'Omer David.' A single name is also fine — there's no obligation.
Registration at Misrad HaPnim
After the Brit, you must register the name at the Ministry of Interior (via the MyVisit app or in-person at the office). Bring: birth certificate from the hospital, both parents' ID. Deadline: 10 days from birth. You can also do it online via gov.il.
Tips for choosing a name
Consider: how the name sounds with the family name, possible nicknames, whether the name works in English (if important to you), the name's meaning. Don't stress — you can decide up until the moment of the Brit.
Pro Tip
Pro tip: Can't agree on a name? Each parent makes a list of 5 favorite names, and find a name that appears on both lists. If none match — a double name (one chosen by dad + one chosen by mom) is a common solution in Israel.
Step 5
The Day of the Brit — What to Expect
The day of the Brit is exciting and stressful in equal measure. Here's exactly what happens, hour by hour, so you arrive prepared.
07:00-08:00Final preparations
08:00-10:00Typical Brit time
15-20 minCeremony duration
1-2 hoursFestive meal
Morning — final preparations
Wake up early. Make sure the food/catering is set up, chairs are arranged, there's wine for Kiddush. Dress the baby in a comfortable outfit, open at the bottom. Clean diaper. Don't feed the baby 30 minutes before the ceremony (to prevent spitting up).
Dress code
No strict dress code. Typically: father in a button-down shirt, mother in comfortable clothes (breastfeeding-friendly!). Guests — festive-casual. If in a synagogue — head covering for men.
The ceremony itself
15-20 minutes. The baby will cry — this is normal and will pass quickly. The Sandak holds, the Mohel performs. A few minutes and it's over. Afterwards — immediately to mom for nursing/bottle. The baby calms down within minutes.
How parents feel
It's normal to feel excitement, anxiety, and even tears. Many fathers get very emotional. Mothers — if it's hard for you to watch, you can stay in an adjacent room and come back right after. There's no 'obligation' to be present.
The meal
After the ceremony — Seudat Mitzvah (festive meal). Toasting, blessings, family photo. The baby is usually already asleep. A special moment — enjoy it. Don't forget to eat too!
Brit catering →Pro Tip
Pro tip: Plan for someone (a good friend, a sister) to be the 'logistics manager' on the day — so you can focus on the baby and the experience. On this day, you're parents, not event planners.
Step 6
The Seudah — Brit Catering
The Brit meal (Seudat Mitzvah) is an important part of the event. In Israel there are several common formats — and the choice depends on budget, guest count and venue.
₪50-80Per person — dairy breakfast
₪80-120Per person — upscale brunch
₪100-150Per person — meat meal
30-100Average guests
Dairy breakfast (most popular)
The most popular format for a Brit in Israel: pastries (bourekas, croissants), salads, cheeses, fish (salmon, tuna), fruits, coffee and cake. ₪50-80 per person. Suitable for 30-80 people. Easy to organize even at home.
Upscale brunch
Upgraded breakfast: add eggs, shakshuka, artisan breads, fresh juice bar, and a dessert station. ₪80-120 per person. Looks impressive and suitable for medium-large Brits.
Meat meal
Less common for a morning Brit, but suitable for Brits held at noon or evening. Meats, sides, salads. ₪100-150 per person. Requires a venue with a kitchen or full catering service.
Brit catering →Synagogue Kiddush
If the Brit is in a synagogue, a simple Kiddush: cakes, drinks, sweets, whiskey. ₪20-40 per person. Most economical. Suitable for families wanting a simple traditional ceremony.
Do it yourself (DIY)
Want to save? Order ready-made platters from a bakery or deli (₪30-50 per person), add fruits and drinks. Family can prepare some of the food. Works great at home.
Pro Tip
Pro tip: Order catering at least a week before (meaning right when the baby is born). Brit caterers are used to short-notice orders, but during holidays and busy seasons it's better to book in advance.
Step 7
Post-Brit Care
Recovery is quick — 3-7 days to full healing. Most babies return to routine within a day or two. Here's exactly what to do to keep the baby comfortable and keep yourselves calm.
Bandaging & maintenance
The Mohel will explain exactly. Typically: gauze with petroleum jelly (or apricot oil), gently wrap the area. Change at every diaper change. Don't pull the gauze — it will fall off on its own. Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly on the gauze so it doesn't stick to the diaper.
Bathing — when and how
Regular bath after 24-48 hours (per the Mohel's instructions). Lukewarm water, no soap on the area. Gentle patting dry, no rubbing. A wet sponge is enough for the first days.
Normal signs — don't panic
Slight swelling (2-3 days) — normal. Redness — normal. A few drops of blood on the diaper — normal. Yellowish stain on the gauze — normal. All of this passes within a week.
When to call the doctor immediately
⚠️ Bleeding that won't stop (larger than a coin) ⚠️ Fever above 38°C/100.4°F ⚠️ Green pus/bad smell ⚠️ Baby isn't eating/isn't urinating ⚠️ Swelling that increases after day 3. In these cases — contact the Mohel, pediatrician, or go to the ER.
Diaper changing tips
Be gentle. Apply plenty of petroleum jelly before closing the diaper. Loose diaper (not too tight). If the gauze sticks — drip lukewarm water and let it soak before removing. Do not apply alcohol or disinfectants.
Follow-up check
The Mohel usually calls the next day, and you can send him a photo on WhatsApp. A pediatrician check-up within a week is recommended. After two weeks — everything should be fully healed.
Pro Tip
Pro tip: Don't hesitate to call the Mohel with any question — even on Shabbat, even at night. Professional Mohalim are available 24/7 in the first week. Better to ask a 'unnecessary' question than to worry alone.
Mazal Tov on your son!
A Brit Milah is an exciting and meaningful moment in your family's life. Even if it's stressful — everything passes quickly, and the baby will be just fine. MazalDay is here to help you organize everything with ease and joy.
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