Halacha
הלכה א
הַמָּל מְבָרֵךְ קֹדֶם שֶׁיָּמוּל אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל הַמִּילָה, אִם מָל בֶּן חֲבֵרוֹ. וְאִם מָל אֶת בְּנוֹ מְבָרֵךְ וְצִוָּנוּ לָמוּל אֶת הַבֵּן. וַאֲבִי הַבֵּן מְבָרֵךְ בְּרָכָה אַחֶרֶת. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַכְנִיסוֹ בִּבְרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. מִצְוָה עַל הָאָב לָמוּל אֶת בְּנוֹ יָתֵר עַל מִצְוָה שֶׁמְּצֻוִּין יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיָּמוּלוּ כָּל עָרֵל שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶן. לְפִיכָךְ אִם אֵין שָׁם אָבִיו אֵין מְבָרְכִין אַחֲרֶיהָ בְּרָכָה זוֹ. וְיֵשׁ מִי שֶׁהוֹרָה שֶׁיְּבָרְכוּ אוֹתָהּ בֵּית דִּין אוֹ אֶחָד מִן הָעָם. וְאֵין רָאוּי לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן:
כסף משנה
1.
Before the circumcision, the person who performs the circumcision recites the blessing, "[Blessed are You...] who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the circumcision." [This applies] when circumcising the son of another person.1The Rambam's ruling depends on his statement (Hilchot Berachot 11:13) that if someone performs a blessing on behalf of another person, he should use the form "who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us concerning...." When circumcising one's own son, one should recite the blessing "... to circumcise a son."2In Hilchot Berachot 11:12, the Rambam states that when one fulfills a mitzvah on one's own behalf, one should use the form "who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to..."Although the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 365:2) mentions the Rambam's opinion, the Ramah states that it is customary to recite the blessing "... concerning the circumcision," at all times.
It is possible to explain that the Ramah does not accept the Rambam's general principle and prefers a universal form for a blessing to be recited every time a particular mitzvah is fulfilled. It is, however, also possible to interpret their difference of opinion as relating to the definition of the mitzvah of circumcision itself. The Rambam's text of the blessing, which uses the form "... to...," indicates that the nature of the mitzvah of circumcision focuses on the act of circumcision. In contrast, the Ramah's text for the blessing can be interpreted to imply that the nature of the mitzvah is to bring a person to the state that he is no longer uncircumcised. Therefore, the form "... concerning..." is more appropriate (Kinat Eliyahu).
[At the circumcision,]3The time when this blessing is recited is a matter of question. In two of his responsa, the Rambam writes that it makes no difference whether this blessing is recited before the circumcision or afterwards. Nevertheless, Rav Avraham, his son, and Rav Yitzchak, his grandson, state that it was the Rambam's custom to recite this blessing before the mitzvah.
The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 265:1) quotes the opinion of Rabbenu Asher, who states that this blessing should be recited between the milah and the pri'ah. the father of the child recites another blessing:
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to have our children enter the covenant of Abraham, our Patriarch.4Tosafot, Pesachim 7a, explain that this blessing is not one of the blessings connected with the performance of a mitzvah, but a blessing that expresses our thanks and appreciation to God for granting us this mitzvah.
[This blessing was instituted because] it is a greater mitzvah for a father to circumcise his son than for the Jewish people as a whole to circumcise the uncircumcised among them. Therefore, if a child's father is not present, this blessing should not be recited. There are those who have ruled that the court or one of the people [in attendance should recite this blessing in the father's absence]. [Nevertheless, this ruling] should not be followed.5The Ra'avad objects to the Rambam's decision and rules that, in the absence of the father, the sandak (the person who holds the baby during the circumcision) should recite this blessing. The Ramah (Yoreh De'ah 265:1) quotes this decision.
הלכה ב
וְאִם הָיוּ שָׁם עוֹמְדִין אוֹמְרִים כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהִכְנַסְתּוֹ לַבְּרִית כֵּן תַּכְנִיסֵהוּ לְתוֹרָה וּלְחֻפָּה וּלְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים:
כסף משנה
2.
If others are present,6The literal translation of the Rambam's phraseology is "If others are standing there." The commentaries explain that his intent is also to emphasize that it is necessary to stand while attending a brit. (See the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 265:6, which states that, if possible, it is preferable to perform a circumcision with at least ten adult males in attendance.) they say: "Just as you have brought him into the covenant,7The Rambam's version of this statement is found also in the Jerusalem Talmud (Berachot 9:3) and is quoted by the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 265:1). At present, however, it is customary to follow Rabbenu Asher's opinion and say, "Just as he has entered the covenant, so may he enter..." without mentioning the father's role. Significantly, this version is found in our texts of Shabbat 137b where this custom is mentioned. so, too, may you bring him to Torah, marriage, and good deeds."8We wish that the merit of the circumcision will lead to a life full of genuine Jewish conduct.הלכה ג
וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְבָרֵךְ אֲבִי הַבֵּן אוֹ הַמָּל אוֹ אֶחָד מִן הָעוֹמְדִין שָׁם. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדַּשׁ יְדִיד מִבֶּטֶן וְחֹק בִּשְׁאֵרוֹ שָׂם וְצֶאֱצָאָיו חָתַם בְּאוֹת בְּרִית קֹדֶשׁ עַל כֵּן בִּשְׂכַר זֹאת אֵל חַי חֶלְקֵנוּ צוּרֵנוּ צַוֵּה לְהַצִּיל יְדִידוּת שְׁאֵרֵנוּ מִשַּׁחַת לְמַעַן בְּרִיתוֹ אֲשֶׁר שָׂם בִּבְשָׂרֵנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ׳ כּוֹרֵת הַבְּרִית. וַאֲבִי הַבֵּן מְבָרֵךְ שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ:
כסף משנה
3.
Afterwards, the father of the child, the person who performed the circumcision, or one of the people in attendance should recite the [following] blessing:Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified the cherished from the womb, affixed his covenant in his flesh, and sealed his descendants with the sign of the holy covenant. Therefore, as a reward for this [circumcision], living God, our Portion, our Rock, has ordained that the beloved of our flesh be saved from the abyss for the sake of His covenant that He has set in our flesh. Blessed are You, God, who establishes the covenant.
The father of the son recites the blessing shehecheyanu.
הלכה ד
הַמָּל אֶת הַגֵּרִים מְבָרֵךְ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לָמוּל אֶת הַגֵּרִים וּלְהַטִּיף מִמֶּנּוּ דַּם בְּרִית שֶׁאִלְמָלֵא דַּם הַבְּרִית לֹא נִתְקַיְּמוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה לג כה) ״אִם לֹא בְרִיתִי יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה חֻקּוֹת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא שָׂמְתִּי״:
כסף משנה
4.
When circumcising converts, one should recite the blessing:9It appears that the Rambam considers this the only blessing recited in connection with the circumcision of converts, and would have this blessing recited before the circumcision. In contrast, the Tur and the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 268:5) explain that two blessings should be recited in connection with the circumcision of a convert:a) one blessing before the circumcision, "... who has sanctified us... and commanded us to circumcise converts,"
b) one blessing after the circumcision, the blessing quoted by the Rambam with the conclusion, "Blessed are You, God, who establishes a covenant."
According to the Shulchan Aruch's perspective, like the blessing mentioned in the previous halachah, this blessing is not a blessing connected with the performance of the mitzvah, but an expression of praise for God for granting us the opportunity to perform such a unique mitzvah.
According to the Rambam's view, it is somewhat difficult to understand: Why is this blessing so lengthy? In this context, theSefer HaMaor explains that this blessing was instituted to reassure converts and strengthen their resolve before they fulfill a mitzvah that is associated with pain and suffering.
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to circumcise converts and to extract from them the blood of the covenant,10The Kessef Mishneh explains that this is a reference to the extraction of blood from converts who were circumcised previously. Other commentaries object to this interpretation, noting that in Halachah 6, the Rambam does not require a blessing in such an instance. for were it not for the blood of the covenant the existence of the heavens and the earth could not be maintained, as [Jeremiah 33:25] states: "Were it not for My covenant, day and night, I would not have established the laws of heaven and earth."
הלכה ה
הַמָּל אֶת עַבְדּוֹ מְבָרֵךְ אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לָמוּל אֶת הָעֲבָדִים וּלְהַטִּיף מֵהֶן דַּם בְּרִית שֶׁאִלְמָלֵא דַּם בְּרִית לֹא נִתְקַיְּמוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ. וְאִם מָל עֶבֶד שֶׁל אֲחֵרִים מְבָרֵךְ עַל מִילַת הָעֲבָדִים. וְהַמָּל אָדָם גָּדוֹל צָרִיךְ לְכַסּוֹת עֶרְוָתוֹ עַד שֶׁיְּבָרֵךְ וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְגַלֵּהוּ וּמָל אוֹתוֹ:
כסף משנה
5.
One who circumcises his slave11I.e., when the master performs the circumcision himself. recites the blessing:12In this instance as well, the Tur and the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 267:12) rule that two blessings should be recited. See Note 9.[Blessed are You...] who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to circumcise slaves and to extract from them the blood of the covenant, for were it not for the blood of the covenant the existence of the heavens and the earth could not be maintained...."
If one circumcises a slave belonging to someone else, one should [alter the text of] the blessing and say, "[and commanded us] concerning the circumcision of slaves [and...]13The reason for the change of text depends on the Rambam's statements (Hilchot Berachot 11:11) that a person who performs a blessing on his own behalf should use the form, "who has sanctified us... and commanded us to..." In contrast, one who performs a blessing on behalf of others should use the form, "...and commanded us concerning...."
When circumcising an adult male, one must cover his sexual organ until after the blessing is recited.14This is because, as explained in Hilchot Kri'at Shema 3:16, it is forbidden to recite holy words in the presence of an exposed sexual organ.
There is somewhat of a problem, however, with the Rambam's statements. Here, it appears that one need not cover the penis of a baby before reciting the blessing, yet in Hilchot Kri'at Shema (ibid.), the Rambam writes that the Shema may not be recited in the presence of a minor whose sexual organ is exposed.
In one of his responsa, the Rambam resolves this difficulty, explaining that the prohibition begins when the child - either male or female - possesses some sexual potency. (See also Siftei Cohen 265:18.) Afterwards, one reveals it and performs the circumcision.
הלכה ו
גֵּר שֶׁמָּל קֹדֶם שֶׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר וְקָטָן שֶׁנּוֹלַד כְּשֶׁהוּא מָהוּל כְּשֶׁמַּטִּיפִין מִמֶּנּוּ דַּם בְּרִית אֵינָן צְרִיכִין בְּרָכָה. וְכֵן אַנְדְּרוֹגִינוּס אֵין מְבָרְכִין עַל מִלָּתוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא אֵינוֹ זָכָר וַדַּאי:
כסף משנה
6.
When the blood of circumcision is extracted from a convert who had been circumcised before conversion, or from a child who was born without a foreskin, there is no necessity to recite a blessing.15In both cases, there is a doubt whether or not it is necessary to perform this circumcision. (See Chapter 1, Halachah 7.) Therefore, the circumcision is performed, but a blessing is not recited, lest there be no obligation to perform this activity, and thus, the blessing would be recited in vain. (See Hilchot Berachot 11:16.) Similarly, a blessing is not recited over the circumcision of an androgynous, because he is not definitely categorized as a male.16The Ra'avad contests this point, noting that when there is a doubt whether a certain activity fulfills a mitzvah or not, one should recite a blessing, and cites the recitation of blessings on the second day of festivals in the diaspora as an example of this principle.Rav Kapach explains that the difference between the Rambam and the Ra'avad depends on their conception of the status of an androgynous. The Ra'avad maintains that an androgynous is considered a male whose status is in doubt. Therefore, since a mitzvah from the Torah is involved, a blessing should be recited. The Rambam maintains that an androgynous is in a category of his own, and the question is whether the obligation to circumcise falls on people in this category. Hence, no blessing is recited. See also their difference of opinion in Hilchot Shofar 2:2.
הלכה ז
עַכּוּ״ם שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לַחְתֹּךְ עָרְלָתוֹ מִפְּנֵי מַכָּה אוֹ מִפְּנֵי שְׁחִין שֶׁנּוֹלַד בּוֹ הָיָה אָסוּר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לַחְתֹּךְ לוֹ אוֹתָהּ, שֶׁהָעַכּוּ״ם אֵין מַעֲלִים אוֹתָם מִידֵי מִיתָה וְלֹא מוֹרִידִין אוֹתָן אֵלֶיהָ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנַּעֲשֵׂית מִצְוָה בִּרְפוּאָה זוֹ, שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא נִתְכַּוֵּן לְמִצְוָה. לְפִיכָךְ אִם נִתְכַּוֵּן הָעַכּוּ״ם לְמִילָה מֻתָּר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לָמוּל אוֹתוֹ:
כסף משנה
7.
It is forbidden for a Jew to circumcise a idolator who is forced to remove his foreskin because of a wound or because of a tumor, since we are instructed neither to save the idolator from death, nor to cause them to die.17In Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 10:1-2, the Rambam writes:If we see an idolater being swept away or drowning in the river, we should not help him. If we see that his life is in danger, we should not save him. It is, however, forbidden to cause one of them to sink or to push him into a pit or the like, since he is not waging war against us....
From the above, we can infer that it is forbidden to offer medical treatment to an idolater even when offered a wage. If, however, one is afraid of the consequences or fears that ill feeling will be aroused, one may treat them for a wage, but to treat them for free is forbidden.
[Regarding] a ger toshav, since we are commanded to secure his well-being, he may be given medical treatment at no cost.
Many authorities maintain that the laws applying to a ger toshav can be applied to all gentiles who are not idolaters. Furthermore, since at present, a doctor would have much difficulty if he refused to treat gentiles, leniency should be shown in this regard.
From the above, it would appear that a doctor who operates a medical practice today is allowed to treat gentile patients. Indeed, throughout the ages, many great Rabbinic authorities, including the Rambam himself, served as doctors to gentiles. Although a mitzvah is accomplished in the process of administering this medical treatment, the idolator did not intend to fulfill the mitzvah. If, however, the idolator intends to fulfill the mitzvah of circumcision, it is a mitzvah to circumcise him.18In Hilchot Melachim 10:10, the Rambam writes that a gentile who desires to fulfill any mitzvah should be given the opportunity.
There are other authorities who differ with the Rambam on this matter. They explain that circumcision is a sign given to the Jewish people that establishes their uniqueness and it is improper that gentiles should be given the opportunity of possessing this property.
הלכה ח
מְאוּסָה הִיא הָעָרְלָה שֶׁנִּתְגַּנּוּ בָּהּ הַגּוֹיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ט כה) ״כִּי כָּל הַגּוֹיִם עֲרֵלִים״. וּגְדוֹלָה הִיא הַמִּילָה שֶׁלֹּא נִקְרָא אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ שָׁלֵם עַד שֶׁמָּל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יז א) ״הִתְהַלֵּךְ לְפָנַי וֶהְיֵה תָמִים״ (בראשית יז ב) ״וְאֶתְּנָה בְרִיתִי בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ״ וְגוֹ׳. וְכָל הַמֵּפֵר בְּרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ וְהִנִּיחַ עָרְלָתוֹ אוֹ מְשָׁכָהּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ תּוֹרָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא:
כסף משנה
8.
How disgusting is the foreskin that is used as a term of deprecation with regard to the gentiles, as [Jeremiah 9:25] states: "For all the gentiles are uncircumcised!" How great is the circumcision! Behold, our Patriarch Abraham was not called "perfect" until he was circumcised, as [Genesis 17:1-2] states: "Proceed before Me and become perfect. And I will place My covenant between Me and you."19See the Guide to the Perplexed, Vol. III, Chapter 49, where the Rambam criticizes a hedonistic approach to life and explains that circumcision comes "to complete the perfection of our emotions... to reduce a person's lust and wild cravings."Anyone who breaks the covenant of Abraham our Patriarch and leaves his foreskin uncircumcised, or [although he was circumcised,]20In the Hellenistic era, there were some Greek sympathizers among the Jewish people who would cause their foreskin to appear extended, so that they would not be distinguished from gentile athletes. The Sages were extremely critical of these individuals. causes it to appear extended, does not have a portion in the world to come,21See Avot 3:11 and Hilchot Teshuvah 3:6. despite the fact that he has studied Torah and performed good deeds.
הלכה ט
בּוֹא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה חֲמוּרָה מִילָה שֶׁלֹּא נִתְלָה לְמשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלֶיהָ אֲפִלּוּ שָׁעָה אַחַת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיָה בַּדֶּרֶךְ. וְכָל מִצְוֹת הַתּוֹרָה נִכְרְתוּ עֲלֵיהֶן שָׁלֹשׁ בְּרִיתוֹת. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כח סט) ״אֵלֶּה דִבְרֵי הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְיָ׳״, (דברים כח סט) ״מִלְּבַד הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת אִתָּם בְּחֹרֵב״. וְשָׁם הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים כט ט) ״אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים הַיּוֹם כֻּלְּכֶם״ (דברים כט יא) ״לְעָבְרְךָ בִּבְרִית יְיָ׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ״, הֲרֵי שָׁלֹשׁ בְּרִיתוֹת. וְעַל הַמִּילָה נִכְרְתוּ שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה בְּרִיתוֹת עִם אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. (בראשית יז ב) ״וְאֶתְּנָה בְרִיתִי בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ״. (בראשית יז ד) ״אֲנִי הִנֵּה בְרִיתִי אִתָּךְ״. וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת בְּרִיתִי בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ. לִבְרִית עוֹלָם. (בראשית יז ט) ״וְאַתָּה אֶת בְּרִיתִי תִשְׁמֹר״. (בראשית יז י) ״זֹאת בְּרִיתִי אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְרוּ״. (בראשית יז יא) ״וְהָיָה לְאוֹת בְּרִית״. (בראשית יז יג) ״וְהָיְתָה בְרִיתִי בִּבְשַׂרְכֶם״. לִבְרִית עוֹלָם. (בראשית יז יד) ״אֶת בְּרִיתִי הֵפַר״. (בראשית יז יט) ״וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת בְּרִיתִי אִתּוֹ. לִבְרִית עוֹלָם״. (בראשית יז כא) ״וְאֶת בְּרִיתִי אָקִים אֶת יִצְחָק״:בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְּסַיְּעָן
כסף משנה
9.
Come and see how severe a matter circumcision is. Moses, our teacher, was not granted even a temporary respite from [fulfilling this mitzvah].22As Exodus 4:24-26 relates, when Moses returned to Egypt, he took his newborn son, Eliezer, with him. He did not circumcise him immediately and, therefore, an angel came in the form of a snake and swallowed him. Tziporah his wife realized the source of the problem and circumcised her son. After this, the angel retracted. (See Nedarim 32a.)The Torah mentions only three covenants regarding all its mitzvot, as [Deuteronomy 28:69] states: "These are the words of the covenant that God commanded... in addition to the covenant that He established with you in Chorev." And [Deuteronomy 29:9-11] states: "You are all standing today... to enter into a covenant with God, your Lord." Thus, there are three covenants.
In contrast, thirteen covenants were established with Abraham, our Patriarch, with regard to circumcision:23In the Guide to the Perplexed, Vol. III, Chapter 49, the Rambam writes that the brit is a sign of the covenant of the oneness of God. "When a person is circumcised he enters into the covenant of Abraham which obligates him to know [God's] unity." This covenant of unity defines the nature of the Jewish people. It is natural that when people share a common sign, love and mutual assistance among them grow.
"I will place My covenant between Me and you" [Genesis 17:2],
"And I, behold, My covenant is with you" [ibid.:4],
"I will establish My covenant between Me and you" [ibid.:7],
"For an eternal covenant" [ibid.],
"And you shall observe My covenant" [ibid.:9],
"This is My covenant which you shall observe" [ibid.:10],
"It will be a sign of the covenant" [ibid.:11],
"My covenant will be in your flesh" [ibid.:13],
"For an eternal covenant" [ibid.],
"He will have nullified My covenant" [ibid.:14],
"And I will establish My covenant with Him" [ibid.:19],
"For an eternal covenant" [ibid.],
"And I will establish My covenant with Isaac" [ibid.:21].