Brit milah ceremonies continue despite virus restrictions

Circumcisions are continuing in the community, with extra precautions in place to ensure safety.

Only parents are allowed to attend brit milah ceremonies for eight-day-old boys, and those conducting it must wear protective equipment, a rabbi, who is also a GP, confirmed this week.

Dr Leslie Solomon, an examiner for the Initiation Society, said the main restriction on circumcisions is “the number of people who can be present”, and that mohels who perform them must “wear protective equipment”.

He added: “There’s only one consideration – safety. Protection for me is not just the babies. It’s everyone in contact, and especially anyone who is vulnerable and older. A bris will wait until everyone’s safe around the baby. If a bris to be be delayed by a week or two, so be it.”

He did, however, urge parents “not to wait unduly. There is an obligation to have a bris as soon as feasible” but said he “will not put any pressure on parents if they want to wait a bit longer”.

Dr Solomons, who said he had contracted the virus and was self-isolating, outlined that there hadn’t been “cancellations” as such, but “less demand” due to the virus.

He usually performs around five procedures a week, but has been unable to carry any out recently due to quarantine. He says however, “I have a couple of lined up for the next few days”. In general he adds, that there may have been a “slight potential tailing off” in the number of parents giving their baby boys brit milahs due to the virus, but “time will tell” on the long-term impact.

Milah UK, which campaigns to safeguard the practice in the country, said the Initiation Society “has formulated guidelines for families who request Milah: it will take place only in the home, and only the parents, the Mohel and the baby will be present.”

The health of the family will be taken into account, so that if a 14 day period of self – isolation is in place then Milah will be delayed.”

MUK added The Association of Reform and Liberal Mohelim (ARLM) have suspended its activities.