Crafting a Calm & Meaningful Bris Ceremony
Hi, I'm Zvi Spiegel,
Thank you for considering me to be part of your son's bris. It is a privilege to help families celebrate this meaningful milestone with a calm, professional, and memorable brit milah ceremony.
As a certified mohel, I am committed to providing compassionate care, clear communication, and a positive experience for both parents and baby. I proudly serve families throughout Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and surrounding communities. I have performed brisses and circumcisions across multiple states along the East Coast and am available to travel when needed.
My goal is to ensure that every family feels informed, comfortable, and supported throughout the process. From your initial consultation to the ceremony itself, I am available to answer questions, discuss traditions and customs, and guide you through every step of planning your son's bris.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns, or to schedule a pre-bris consultation. I look forward to helping your family celebrate this special occasion.
Warm regards,
Zvi Spiegel
Certified Mohel
Serving Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and the East Coast
A Personal Journey in
Sacred Tradition
I have trained extensively in the art and laws of Bris Milah under the guidance of Rabbi Shimon Schreiber and am certified by the world-renowned halachic authority, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann shlit"a.
In addition to my formal training, I have had the privilege of working alongside and learning from experienced veteran mohalim, further developing the skills and sensitivity required to perform this sacred mitzvah. The highlight of my career was performing the bris for my own son, an experience that deepened my appreciation for the profound responsibility and privilege of serving Jewish families during this meaningful moment.
I live in Baltimore, Maryland, with my wife and children, where I am actively involved in studying and teaching Torah and Judaism in a variety of community settings.
As a certified mohel serving Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and surrounding communities, I am committed to helping families celebrate their son's brit milah with professionalism, compassion, and adherence to both halachic and medical standards.
Letter of Certification
Authorized and endorsed by Rabbi Moshe Heinemann Shlit"a.
Endorsements & Testimonials
Comprehensive Care for Your Family
Rabbi Zvi Spiegel offers a range of services tailored to meet the spiritual and clinical needs of your family.
Why Families
Trust Rabbi Zvi
Rabbi Spiegel combines timeless tradition with modern clinical precision to provide the safest, quickest, and most meaningful experience possible.
Gentle Technique
A calm, reassuring environment with sucrose and lidocaine to minimize any discomfort.
Fast Procedure
The procedure is typically completed in under a minute, with the baby calming immediately after swaddling.
Follow-up Care
Dedicated support for days following the bris, ensuring perfect healing and parental peace of mind.
Inclusive Ceremonies
Welcoming all families and creating meaningful, elevating experiences that honor your traditions.
Travel Availability
Serving MD, DC, VA, and PA. I am happy to travel to you for your son's bris.
Medical Awareness
Rigorous training and medical caution, working closely with pediatricians and urologists.
Halachic Expertise
In-depth knowledge of Jewish law (Bris Milah) ensuring the ceremony is both valid and beautiful.
The Journey to a Meaningful Bris
A seamless and supportive process designed to give your son the best possible start.
Consultation
Initial conversation to discuss the process, timing, and any specific family needs or medical concerns.
Pre-Bris Guidance
Detailed instructions on what to bring and how to prepare the baby for a calm experience.
Ceremony Preparation
Setting the stage for a meaningful event, including honors for family members and ritual items.
Bris Ceremony
The ritual procedure performed with clinical precision and spiritual depth, followed by the naming.
Aftercare Support
Continuous availability and follow-up visit after the bris to ensure perfect healing.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Find answers to the most common questions families have when preparing for their son's Bris Milah. If you have any other concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Detailed Instructions for Families
Rabbi Zvi Spiegel provides professional, step-by-step guidance before and after the procedure to ensure a calm, safe, and speedy recovery.
בס"ד
Bris Instructions
Mazel tov! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your celebration. Please print these pages and bring them to the bris. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at any time.
Parents to bring:
- Bris pillow & outfit
- Receiving blanket
- Kiddush cup
- Sweet red kosher wine [e.g. Kedem, Rashi]
- Diapers x5 (disposable)
- Wipes
- Pacifier
Mohel to supply:
• Gauze pads & Ointment
Before the Bris:
- Baby should be finished feeding 1 hour before the bris.
- Baby should arrive 20 minutes before the scheduled time.
- Baby should NOT have creams, ointments, or oils applied prior to the bris.
Aftercare
- Bandage & Initial Protection: After the bris, the baby will have: a bandage around the incision to protect the site, and a gauze pad with ointment on top to protect from chafing against the diaper. If the bandage falls off without bleeding, that is ok.
- Gauze & Ointment Changes: With clean hands, change the gauze pad with ointment (Vaseline, bacitracin, A&D, etc.) with each dirty diaper, or at least three times a day for three days (prepare a few in advance of Shabbos). After the gauze supply is finished, continue applying ointment (Vaseline or A&D) liberally.
- Positioning & Double Diapering: Bris should be pointed down toward the legs. Apply two diapers, a size larger than regular, for the next three days to protect the area.
- Normal Healing Indicators: The bris area may change colors, swell, and or develop yellow granulation during normal healing. Baby may be fussy after bris. Contact myself or your pediatrician if your baby is not eating or urinating.
- Bath Instructions: The baby should not have a bath until the bris bandage is removed (not the gauze pad with ointment). A sponge bath that avoids the bris is ok. Consult your pediatrician if the umbilical cord has not yet fallen off.
- Long-term Care: After the site heals completely, be sure to clean between the folds under the glans while bathing for about a year.
The Bris Ceremony
Tradition & Meaning
Our sages tell us that a boy’s Bris Milah is the foundation of his spiritual life. This is an auspicious moment to pray that a holy soul enters your son at his bris, that he may live a long and healthy life with a lifelong commitment to Jewish values and preserving our sacred covenant. I strive to conduct the ceremony in a calm, inclusive and elevating way.
Honors & Participation
The bris ceremony is also an opportunity for the parents to honor family members, friends and or dignitaries, to help bring their child into the covenant. The ceremony can be tailored to include as many people as you wish.
Honors for the Bris Ceremony (כיבודים לברית מילה)
Prepare and coordinate ceremonial honors for your family and guests
Here is a typical bris timeline
Kvatter Brings Baby In
Kvatter
A married couple (or mother and son). The wife takes the baby from the mother and gives him to her husband, who brings the baby to the ceremony. After the ceremony, the husband brings the baby back to his wife, who returns him to the mother. This honor is considered a segulah (omen) for the kvatter couple to merit children of their own, so it is often given to newlyweds.
Kissei shel Eliyahu (Chair of Elijah)
Kissei shel Eliahu
The baby is placed on the chair of Elijah the Prophet, and a special prayer is recited by the mohel.
Bris Done on Sandek's lap
Sandek
Considered the highest honor, usually given to a grandfather, mentor, or great rabbi. Sits in the chair next to Kissei shel Eliahu, receives the baby from the father, and holds him securely through the bris procedure. Customarily, one serves as sandek for only one son in a given family (with the exception of a great Rabbi).
Blessings and Name
Brachos & Krias Shem
Blessings are recited over a goblet of wine and the baby’s Jewish name is announced. (Multiple Honors)
Kvatter Brings Back & Party
Naming (Boys & Girls)
Our sages teach us that the baby’s soul only enters after the bris; accordingly, it is the appropriate time to bestow his Hebrew name. Parenthetically, a girl’s naming ceremony takes place after her father is called up to the Torah soon after her birth. Parents may have a celebratory reception following the naming of their daughter. I am happy to help you craft a meaningful (non-invasive) naming ceremony for your baby girl as well. I am happy to offer any guidance as you name your child.
בס"ד
Honors for the Bris Ceremony
Parents have the opportunity to include family, friends, rabbis and dignitaries in this great mitzvah with the following honors. The Bris ceremony can be tailored to honor as many people as you wish. Please print this page, fill it out, and bring it to the Bris. Be sure to indicate the proper titles for honorees (rabbi, sabba, grandpa, uncle etc.) as they are to be called up. Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you would like my assistance in crafting a meaningful ceremony
| # | Honor | Title (Rabbi, Uncle, Grandpa etc.) | Honoree Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kvatter | ||
| 2 | Cheikas | ||
| 3 | Kissei shel Eliahu | ||
| 4 | MeiHaKissei | ||
| 5 | Sandek | ||
| 6 | MeiHaSandek | ||
| 7 | Brachos | ||
| 8 | Amida l’ Brachos | ||
| 9 | Krias Shem | ||
| 10 | Amida l’ Krias Shem |
Explanations & Guidelines:
- Kvatter: A married couple (or mother and son). The wife takes the baby from the mother and gives him to her husband, who brings the baby to the ceremony. After the ceremony, the husband brings the baby back to his wife, who returns him to the mother. This honor is considered a segulah (omen) for the kvatter couple to merit children of their own, so it is often given to newlyweds.
- Cheikas: Optional. Family members or friends who take the baby from the Kvatter and carry him closer to the front of the room. Can honor multiple men.
- Kissei shel Eliahu: Takes the baby from the Kvatter and places him on Kissei shel Eliahu, the throne set aside for Elijah the Prophet.
- MeiHaKissei: Optional. Removes the baby from Kissei shel Eliahu and hands him to the father.
- Sandek: Considered the highest honor, usually given to a grandfather, mentor, or great rabbi. Sits in the chair next to Kissei shel Eliahu, receives the baby from the father, and holds him securely through the bris procedure. Customarily, one serves as sandek for only one son in a given family (with the exception of a great Rabbi).
- MeiHaSandek: Optional. After the bris, lifts the baby from the Sandek's lap and hands him to the next honoree.
- Brachos: recites blessings (Hebrew) over a goblet of wine. May be combined with Krias Shem
- Amida l’ Brachos: Holds the baby standing up during the recitation of the blessings. May be combined with Amida l’ Krias Shem
- Krias Shem: Recites a prayer in Hebrew announcing the child's Jewish name.
- Amida l’ Krias Shem: Holds the baby standing up during the recitation of the naming formula
Capturing the Sanctity of the Moment
A glimpse into the professional and compassionate environment Rabbi Zvi Spiegel creates for every family.
Let's Prepare for Your Son's Special Day
Want to schedule or preregister your son’s Bris? Just have a question? Please reach out with the form on the right or the contact information below, and I will get back to you shortly.
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