Ritual Circumcision in Judaism

Why Jewish Baby Boys are Circumcised

In Judaism, a baby's circumcision is much more than surgery. A Jewish baby's circumcision marks his entrance into the covenant with God.

Three Signs of the Covenant

The Hebrew word brit means covenant. In Judaism there are three signs which signify the covenant between God and the Jewish People.

1. Sabbath (Shabbat)
   "The Israelite people shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout the ages as a covenant for all time: it shall be a sign for all time between Me and the people of Israel" (Exodus 31:16-17).
   
   
2. Rainbow (Keshet)
   After Noah's flood ended and mankind was renewed, God said "This is the sign that I set for the covenant between Me and you, and every living creature with you, for all ages to come. I have set My bow in the clouds, and it shall serve over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature among all flesh, so that the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh" (Genesis 9:12-15).
   
   
3. Covenant of Circumcision (Brit Mila)
   God said to Abraham, "Such shall be the covenant between Me and you and your offspring to follow which you shall keep: every male among you shall be circumcised. you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you" (Genesis 17:10-11).

Thus, circumcision is not simply a medical procedure in Judaism. Circumcision in Judaism is a sign of the covenant between God and Israel. Jewish boys, shortly after birth and upon getting their Hebrew name, are marked on their generative" organ as having joined the covenant with God, a covenant that links generation to generation.