Why Choose a Mohel?
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Congratulations! You’ve decided to circumcise your newborn son. Now you need to think about the best way to do it. For most families, the choice comes down to either a hospital procedure, directly after birth, or a traditional home-based circumcision carried out by a Mohel (Jewish Circumcision Expert).
The decision is a deeply personal one, and I encourage you and your spouse to talk through your options. In all the time I have been practicing as a Mohel, I have found that those families who choose to have a trained Mohel perform their son's circumcision do so for one or all of the following reasons.
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Speed and Comfort
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Unlike in a hospital setting, where the procedure can take 25 minutes or more, the Mohel experience is over in less than 2 minutes! It isn’t recommended to carry the baby back and forth following a circumcision, so being at home immediately after the circumcision is very important for the comfort of your baby. With a home visit you can nurse in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
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Sooner
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For a healthy newborn, the best time for the circumcision is in the first few days after birth. Most mothers (especially after caesarean) do not feel up to going out immediately after childbirth, and so would have had to delay the circumcision until later. With home visits however, the circumcision can be done sooner.
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More Meaningful and Personalized Experience
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When your son is circumcised in hospital, you usually don't know in advance who will carry out the procedure. He will receive multiple shots causing him unnecessary discomfort. The circumcision is then carried out by an anonymous intern or doctor that may or may not be trained in the art of circumcision. Often the child must wear an uncomfortable ring around the penis for several days afterwards.
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The home-based Mohel experience couldn't be more different!
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You and I will have a detailed phone call or a meeting before the procedure takes place. I will learn and understand your needs and aspirations so I can make the event personally meaningful to you and your family. The procedure, which usually takes less than two minutes, will be held in the comfort of your home. Immediately after the procedure, the baby is swaddled and given to you, his mother, to feed and cuddle. I strive to keep the atmosphere calm, caring and loving throughout. I will be available both before and after the circumcision for questions, support and advice.
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A Devoted Professional
When you choose a Mohel, you choose a true expert who has devoted several years of his life to undertake a rigorous training program, which includes lots of hand-on experience. A Mohel is someone who has actively chosen this path and is devoted to it. I remember my first encounter with the head of the Paediatric Urology department of a famous children's hospital. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he said candidly: "Rabbi, you are probably more experienced in the art of circumcision than any doctor in this hospital!"
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​​Comparison Chart
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Read the comparison chart regarding the differences between using the services of a Mohel vs a Hospital Procedure here.
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