Mishneh Torah, Circumcision 3

Hook

"How great is the circumcision!"—a declaration of identity carved into the very flesh of our history.

Context

• Source: Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Milah (Laws of Circumcision), Chapter 3.
• Era: 12th-century Egypt; Rambam (Maimonides) codifying the practice for a global Sephardi/Mizrahi diaspora.
• Community: The work serves as the bedrock for Sephardi legal tradition, balancing philosophical depth with communal ritual.

Text Snapshot

"How disgusting is the foreskin that is used as a term of deprecation... How great is the circumcision! Behold, our Patriarch Abraham was not called 'perfect' until he was circumcised... The Torah mentions only three covenants regarding all its mitzvot... In contrast, thirteen covenants were established with Abraham, our Patriarch, with regard to circumcision."

Minhag/Melody

In Sephardi and Mizrahi communities, the Brit Milah is not merely a medical procedure; it is a liturgical event. We follow the tradition of reciting the blessing “Le-mul et ha-ben” (to circumcise the son) when a father performs the mitzvah, emphasizing his personal, active role. The emotional weight is elevated by the presence of the Kise shel Eliyahu (the Chair of Elijah), often adorned with fine textiles, representing the belief that the Prophet Elijah attends every covenant to witness the continuity of Israel.

Contrast

While the Rambam highlights the father’s unique obligation to perform the circumcision, the Ramah (Ashkenazi tradition) observes a universalized blessing formula ("al ha-milah") regardless of who performs the act. This reflects a subtle, beautiful difference: the Sephardi emphasis often centers on the specific, personal bond between father and son, while the Ashkenazi focus leans toward the communal nature of the mitzvah.

Home Practice

At your next simcha (or even when witnessing a brit), pay close attention to the blessing: “...le-hakhniso bi-verito shel Avraham Avinu” (to bring him into the covenant of Abraham our Patriarch). Reflect on the "thirteen covenants" mentioned by Rambam—try to name or list three ways that your own Jewish practice connects you to that ancient, unbroken chain of identity.

Takeaway

Circumcision is the "sign of the covenant of the oneness of God." It is our physical, tangible reminder that we are part of a lineage that values both the body and the soul as vehicles for divine service.