Are you a Mohel or a Doctor?

Both.  I trained as a pediatrician at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, completing my residency in 2002, and am currently in practice at Medical City Dallas Hospital. I am also a Mohel for the Dallas Jewish community.

Where did you train to perform Brit Milah?

In 2003 I had the special opportunity to travel to New York City to study with the Rabbis at the Jewish Theological Seminary to learn the ritual laws and customs of Brit Milah as part of their Brit Kodesh program.  This program trains Judaically observant physicians, already skilled in medical circumcision, to be Mohelim in their communities.  I studied along with 18 other physicians from around the country and the world, under Rabbi Joel Roth, Rabbi Neil Gillman, and other great Talmudic and theological minds. 

I trained medically to perform newborn circumcision at Parkland Hospital during my residency and am currently credentialed to perform them at two Dallas area hospitals, in addition to my own office. I am a board-certified pediatrician and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What do you charge for a Bris?

My recommended fee is $800; however, if you have any financial concerns or issues, please do not hesitate to discuss them with me. I do charge extra for travel time and expense if the bris is outside the Dallas area.

Will my health insurance cover the Bris?

Because it is a religious ceremony, a Bris is not generally covered by health insurance.  I am not able to file with insurance or provide “codes” for a Bris.

What if one of the baby’s parents is not Jewish?

If the baby’s mother is Jewish but the father is not, then the baby is Jewish according to Halacha (Jewish law) and should receive a Bris on the 8th day of life like any other Jewish boy.  If the baby’s father is Jewish but the mother is not, then the baby is not Jewish according to Halacha, and does not receive a Bris.  If you wish to convert the baby to Judaism and raise him as a Jew, I will be happy to work with your Rabbi to schedule and perform a Brit Milah for the purpose of the conversion.

If I really want my boy circumcised in the hospital when he is born, can you come and say a blessing or can we just do a naming afterwards?

For a Brit Milah to be valid it must occur no earlier than the 8th day of life and be performed by a Jewish Mohel. Hospital circumcisions occur earlier than that, and often by a non-Jewish physician, so there is no way to say a blessing on a routine hospital newborn circumcision.  DO NOT get your Jewish baby circumcised in the hospital at birth, because if you do, he CANNOT HAVE A BRIS.

Isn’t a hospital circumcision safer?

Not at all, there is no difference in safety. As a pediatrician, I am credentialed to perform circumcisions in hospitals, and do so routinely.  When I perform the Bris on your son in your home or synagogue, I use the exact same procedure with the exact same precautions for anesthesia, infection control, and safety as when I perform a circumcision in the office or hospital.

Do we ever delay the Bris?

The Bris would only be delayed from the 8th day if there is a medical or safety risk to the child due to illness (prematurity and jaundice being two of the most common reasons this would happen), or an anatomic issue (such as a hypospadias) which requires a urologist to provide specialty care.  If a baby is born by C-section, and the 8th day falls out on Shabbat or Yom Tov, the Bris would be delayed until the next non-Shabbat/Yom Tov day.  Remember, while there may be a rare reason to delay a Bris, we can never hold a Bris early.

I still have some questions.  Where can I reach you?

You can call me any time you need to (except on Shabbat or Jewish Holidays), and I will be happy to answer your questions.  If I am not able to take your call, please leave me a voicemail or message.  I usually return calls within a few hours.

So, once the baby is born, how do we schedule the Bris?

Every Bris needs to be scheduled quickly, as only one week elapses between the baby’s birth and the Bris.  Please call me as soon as possible after the birth of the baby with the following information: the date and time of the baby’s birth, whether the baby was born vaginally or by caesarian section, and if there are any medical problems with the baby.  I will let you know the day that the baby should be circumcised, and we will arrange the details of the place and time for the ceremony based on both of our schedules.  A Bris is traditionally held in the morning but may occur anytime during daylight hours.