Dear Dr. Eisenberg: Someone told me that Jews believe that an infant doesn't become fully human until the eighth day after birth, hence the timing of circumcision. Would you please comment on this?
B.D., University of Texas
Dear B.D,
While Jews perform the circumcisions of their sons on the eighth day because the Torah commands it, there are multiple reasons given for why the bris mila (circumcision ceremony) is performed on the eighth day.[2] None of these reasons are related to the baby becoming a person at eight days.
There is a particularly meaningful reason given for why the bris mila is on the eighth day. Rabbi Moshe Isserles[3] describes the custom of having a "welcoming" party (commonly known as a shalom zachor) for a newborn baby boy on the Friday night after the birth. Many commentaries ponder the question of why the party is held specifically on Friday night. Rabbi David HaLevi Segal, known as the Taz, brings a midrash[4] to explain the choice of day. The midrash comments on the command of the Torah[5] that a sacrifice not be brought before the newborn animal is eight days old:
"Rabbi Levi says that it is analogous to a king who decrees that anyone who wishes to see the face of the king must first see the face of the queen. Similarly says Hashem: do not bring a sacrifice before me until at least one Sabbath has passed for there are no seven days without a Sabbath and there is no mila (circumcision) without a Sabbath."[6]
Why the importance of the Sabbath? Keeping the Sabbath is compared to keeping the whole Torah and breaking the Sabbath is considered tantamount to transgressing the entire Torah, since the Sabbath is a testimony that God made the world.[7] According to the Torah, the exact times of the Jewish holidays are determined empirically by observing the appearance of the new moon and are set by the Sanhedrin. However, the Sabbath occurs every seven days without the input of man. Therefore, we see that while the holiness of the Jewish holidays derives at least partially from man, the holiness of the Sabbath comes directly and exclusively from God.
Circumcision represents the completion of the human being.
In Judaism, circumcision is considered a symbol of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. In fact, bris literally means "covenant." The bris is on the eighth day so that the newborn baby will by necessity live through a complete week which must include a Sabbath. Once the baby has experienced the "holiness" of the Shabbos, he may enter into the covenant of the Jewish people.
Why should circumcision be the sign of the covenant between the Jews and God? Circumcision represents the completion of the human being. According to Jewish tradition,[8] Adam, the first man, was born without a foreskin. Only when he sinned did he create a barrier between himself and God and at that point developed a foreskin.[9] The removal of the foreskin represents the physical act by which man attempts to come close to God again. The evil Roman ruler Turnus Rufus asked Rabbi Akiva why Jews perform circumcision. If God wanted men circumcised, would he have not created them that way? Rabbi Akiva answered that God provided circumcision as an act for man to improve himself, something that even God cannot do for him.[10]
Historically, Jews have undergone great sacrifice, sometimes even risking death, to perform circumcisions on their sons and bring them into the covenant of Abraham. More than once in Jewish history, during times of persecution from the Greeks and Romans to the Nazis, rulers have recognized that circumcision was at the core of Jewish identity, and have tried to ban it, often on pain of death.
It is important to recognize that while some medical studies have shown health benefits to circumcision, Jews do not circumcise their sons for that reason, but because of the covenant that it represents with God. While the American Academy of Pediatrics has changed its position several times, the Jewish people have always been steadfast in their commitment to bris mila.
Nevertheless, despite rare media reports and rabid blogs to the contrary, ritual circumcision is a very safe procedure. Dr. Avraham Steinberg, author of the Encyclopedia of Jewish Medical Ethics[11] (and a pediatric neurologist himself) reports that:
"...although ritual circumcision is usually performed by non-physicians, complications are extremely rare. A summary of several large studies comprising more than 24,000 newborn circumcisions found complications in only 0.06% to 0.25%. The medical literature between 1953 and 1980 contains only two instances of fatality as a result of circumcision.
By contrast, in a report of 500,000 circumcisions in New York and 175,000 in the U.S. Armed Forces, not a single fatality occurred. These large studies are more reliable than reports of individual cases. The fact that isolated reports occur in the literature attests to the extreme rarity of death following circumcision."
It should be apparent that the timing of bris mila is meaningful and profound. Circumcision has been an integral part of Jewish tradition for thousands of years and we reaffirm our unique connection to God with each bris that we perform.
Related Articles: Bris Milah: Beautiful or Barbaric?
Circum-Decision
[1] Nidda 44a
[2] Devarim Rabbah 6:1 states that God had pity on the child and instead of requiring circumcision immediately after birth, waited until the baby was stronger. This strength may be physical (Moreh Nevuchim 3:49) or spiritual (as discussed above regarding the Sabbath). Other reasons given are so that the baby is given time to "mourn" for the Torah that it learned in utero and has now forgotten (Taz, Yoreh Deah265:13), and that the parents are happier at eight days when "tumas leidah" no longer applies (Nidda 31b). Interestingly, the baby's coagulation factors appear to peak at the eighth day. See the essay entitled "A Tapestry of Eights" in Bris Milah by Rabbi Paysach Krohn (Mesorah Publications) for a detailed discussed of the significance of the eighth day for circumcision.
[3]Rama, Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 265:12
[4] Vayikra Rabbah 27 (parshas Emor)
[5] Leviticus 22:27
[6] The Sabbath is commonly compared to a queen.
[7]Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Shabbos 30:15
[8] Avos D'Rebbe Nosson 2:5
[9] Sanhedrin 38b
[10] Midrash Tanchuma, Tazria 5
[11] For study references, see Steinberg, A. Encyclopedia of Jewish Medical Ethics; Feldheim: New York, p. 199
(8) Yochanan Hummasti, September 21, 2018 9:38 AM
Scientific Proof of Divine Origins of Torah
On the eighth day, the amount of vitamin K and prothrombin present is elevated above 100% of normal and is the only day in the males life in which this will be the case under normal conditions. If circumcision is to be performed, day eight is the perfect day to do it. Vitamin K and prothrombin are at their peak on that day. Vitamin K and prothrombin are vital to coagulation, therefore stopping bleeding and healing faster. Ref. by S I McMillen, MD in his book "None Of These Diseases".
(7) Christy Zion, April 2, 2015 7:38 AM
very good and informative site. metaphysics is really interesting in knowing the universe n multiverse
Very good
(6) Joey, May 23, 2008 11:16 AM
Fascinating
So a circumcision is a combination of man improving himself, via the actual cirumcision, and acknowledging God''s supreme power, via the Sabbath. Fascinating insights. Thank you very much for this article, and God bless!
(5) Bernie Siegel, MD, May 14, 2008 10:29 AM
why the eighth day
seven days represents a cycle and every religion has a seven day week no matter what their calendars are like otherwise. the eighth day represents a new beginning and the start of a new cycle and the bris is the symbolic act and sign signifying this and our covenant with our creator. it''s appropriateness is not the question or the issue. that is a personal one that each of us must answer for ourselves.
Anonymous, August 15, 2013 8:34 PM
Why the eighth day?
YOur explanation of the eighth day for a bris is enlightening to this non-Jewish person. Our grand child will be having a bris on Monday and the question had come up "why the eighth day/" So beautiful the understanding!
(4) Pamela, May 14, 2008 1:00 AM
complications
A summary of several large studies comprising more than 24,000 newborn circumcisions found complications in only 0.06% to 0.25%.
Who reports these problems? My son, whose mohel was above reproach, had problems after his bris that led his pediatrician to yell at me, "This is why we don''''t circumcise babies anymore." I explained that I had to (though in my heart I could never accept what we''''d done to my perfect boy). Do you think this problem, or most others, were "reported?" This article does NOT explain the need to circumcise, it is a poorly-organized dance around the subject, and the AAP has not in fact changed its position "several times." True seekers of information deserve far better than this article.
(3) Anonymous, May 13, 2008 12:25 AM
WOW!
"According to the Torah, the exact times of the Jewish holidays are determined empirically by observing the appearance of the new moon and are set by the Sanhedrin. However, the Sabbath occurs every seven days without the input of man. Therefore, we see that while the holiness of the Jewish holidays derives at least partially from man, the holiness of the Sabbath comes directly and exclusively from God."
That is so profound!
(2) E. Phelps, May 12, 2008 7:29 PM
Qustion answered
Your teaching is well taken. Thanks for the frank explanation and summary.
Torah is correct
Thanks
(1) Pam, May 12, 2008 3:28 PM
Vitamin K - 8th day
Interestingly enough, on the 8th day of life, infants begin synthesizing Vitamin K which helps blood to clot. I''ve always found this coincidence thought-provoking.
Anonymous, March 18, 2013 12:00 AM
yes. the 8th day only
Yes the8th day only.0ur creater knows best