What Jewish Denominations does Dr. James complete the Brit Milah Ceremony for?
Dr. James completes the Brit Milah Service and circumcision for Reform Jewish families. He is more than happy to assist with certain interfaith marriages, LGBTQ+ families, and other unique family situations. Dr. James does not have experience with the Conservative or Orthodox ceremony. He does not perform Brit Milah for the Messianic Jewish community.
If you are looking for someone to complete a non-religious circumcision, Dr. James is happy to perform this as well.
When does the Brit Milah ceremony usually take place?
The Brit Milah ceremony occurs on the child's 8th day of life, according to the Lunar calendar. If the child is born during the daytime before sundown, the Brit Milah will occur on the same day of the next week (i.e. a child born Monday during the day will have their Brit Milah the next week's Monday). If the child is born after sunset, the Brit Milah will occur on the next day of the next week (i.e. a child born Monday night after sundown will have their Brit Milah the next week's Tuesday). The Brit Milah Ceremony can take place on Shabbat or major holidays, and it is actually a Mitzvah to complete the circumcision if it lands on one of these special days.
The Brit Milah service is required to take place during the daytime before sundown. It is traditionally completed as early in the day as possible, but actual timing can be flexible.
The Brit Milah ceremony may never take place prior to the 8th day of life. Exceptions can be made to take place after the 8th day of life in the setting of illness of the child, extending NICU stay, or other extenuating circumstances that can be discussed.
In what locations does Dr James perform the Brit Milah ceremony?
For most families, the Brit Milah ceremony occurs in the family's home. This is to allow for a warm and comfortable location for the parents and the child. Occasionally, the Brit Milah may take place at the family's synagogue of choice or at another location of the family's choosing (i.e. rent out a restaurant, country club, etc).
Dr. James resides in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is able to drive to neighboring communities such as Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Jackson, and others. An extensive commute (i.e. >2 hours) will incur an extra commute fee.
When is the best time to contact Dr. James to be my family's Mohel?
Ideally, you would initially contact Dr. James within 1-3 weeks prior to the birth of their child. This allows ample time to meet with Dr. James to discuss the Brit Milah Ceremony and modify it for the most meaningful experience. If initial contact with Dr. James occurs after the birth of the child, Dr. James can accommodate to the best of his abilities.
Is the Vitamin K Injection required for Dr. James to complete the circumcision?
The Vitamin K injection is crucial for the well-being of the newborn. Humans get Vitamin K from their diet (however, Vitamin K cannot cross the placenta into the baby) or from their gut microbiome (the unborn baby's gut has no bacteria). Vitamin K plays a crucial role in the ability of blood to clot, thus preventing excessive bleeding during the newborn heel stick or the circumcision procedure.
Generally, babies born via vaginal delivery fill their gut microbiome and can start to produce Vitamin K a few days into life. Babies born via Cesarean Section take a longer time to fill their gut microbiome. Breast milk can supply very small amounts of Vitamin K. However, given these delays in vitamin K acquisition, it is recommended that all newborns get the Vitamin K injection soon after birth.
If you choose not to get the Vitamin K injection for your child, Dr. James may be willing to complete the Brit Milah ceremony and circumcision after extensive discussion during the consultative period.
Does Dr. James perform Metsitsa?
Metsista is the old Jewish practice where the mohel directly sucks blood from the break in the skin created during the circumcision procedure. While generally an older tradition, this is still practiced in orthodox and other more religious Jewish communities.
Dr. James does NOT directly perform metsistsa. If this practice is of utmost importance to the family, you may discuss with Dr James close alternatives that may satisfy this requirement (e.g., use of a pipette to draw blood).
If my extended family cannot make it to the Brit Milah, can we hold a Brit Milah virtually?
Dr James is more than happy to accommodate the inclusion of family via virtual call (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WebEx, etc). Specifics can be discussed, but generally Dr. James will request the family set up a computer with a webcam (built-in or separate) and use of a virtual call platform (not FaceTime due to built-in restraints). The virtual family can still watch the service (the actual circumcision procedure will not be allowed to be shown on the webcam) and participate with prayers and readings. Dr. James requests that someone present (NOT the parents) be assigned to be the moderator of the virtual call to facilitate movement of the camera and muting of loud family members.
How does Dr. James incorporate my new child's sibling(s) into the Brit Milah Ceremony?
The birth of a baby sibling can be a challenging time for a sibling. They are no longer the center of the parents' attention and may have never experienced not being the center of the grandparents' focus. Inclusion of the sibling in the new child's Brit Milah is a wonderful way to unite the family into Judaism.
Dr. James encourages the sibling to walk into the room with the child and the kvatter (the one who brings the child into the room). Dr James can provide a special, simple prayer for the sibling to recite. Lastly, Dr. James has created a special certificate for the child to honor, commit to, and love their new sibling.
Can I bill my Insurance for Coverage for the Brit Milah?
Generally, insurance does not cover the cost of the Brit Milah. Dr. James does not bill your insurance company. If you would like to try and see if your insurance will reimburse the cost, Dr. James can provide an Invoice with an Operative Note. If your insurance company accepts this, generally the cost will apply to your out-of-network deductible.
ICD Code: Z41.2, CPT Code: 54150