When should a Brit Milah take place?
The Bris of a healthy baby is done on the eighth day with the day of birth being counted as the first day. Jewish days begin and end at sunset. For example, a baby born on a Sunday will have his Bris the following Sunday. A baby born on Sunday night after sunset will have his Bris the following Monday. A Bris must be performed during daylight hours and it is traditional to schedule the Bris as early in the day as possible to show our eagerness to perform this mitzvah. A Bris performed at night or before the eighth day is not valid.
The commandment to perform Brit Milah on the eighth day of life is so important that even if the eighth day falls on Shabbat, Yom Kippur or any other Jewish festival, the Bris is performed. However, in the case of a baby born by Caesarean section, the Bris is not performed on Shabbat or on a festival, but on the day following. In the event that a baby is not in perfect health, even if not seriously ill, the Bris is delayed until both the doctor and the mohelet are in agreement that the baby is healthy and the procedure is completely safe. |