It is customary to light candles during the Berit Mila ceremony. The special "tray of Eliyahu Hanabi" is passed around containing candles, and people light these candles in honor of the Berit Mila. What is the source and origin of this practice?
The custom to light candles at a Berit Mila is mentioned by the Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Cracow, 1525-1572) in Yore De’a (265:5), and is based on a comment of Tosafot (Talmud commentaries by Medieval French and German scholars) in Masechet Sanhedrin (32b). The Gemara there describes several customs that were observed in certain communities in times when circumcision was officially banned by the government and thus had to be performed secretly. In a place called Burni, the Gemara tells, the grinding of the millstones was a signal that a "Shabu’a Ha’ben" was being performed. The term "Shebu’a Ha’ben" literally means "the son’s week," and refers to a Berit Mila, which is performed a week after a boy’s birth. When the townspeople heard the noise of the mill, they understood that the medicines that would be needed for after the Berit were being prepared, and they thus knew that a Berit was about to be held. In a place called Beror Hayil, the Gemara then relates, the lighting of candles during the day was used as a signal that a Berit Mila celebration was taking place. Tosafot comment that in commemoration of this lighting of candles, communities adopted the practice of lighting candles at every Berit Mila.
The Maharsha (Rav Shemuel Eliezer Eidels, Poland, 1555-1631) adds that this practice is also based upon a famous verse from Megilat Ester – "The Jews experienced light, joy, elation and glory" ("La’yehudim Hayeta Ora Ve’simha Ve’sasson Vi’ykar"). The term "Sasson" refers to Berit Mila, as indicated by the verse in Tehillim (119:162), "Sas Anochi Al Imretecha Ke’moseh Shalal Rab" ("I exult over Your teachings like one who comes upon an enormous treasure"), which speaks of Berit Mila. This verse in Megilat Ester also mentions "Ora" ("light"), thus establishing an association between Berit Mila and lights. For this reason, the Maharsha explains, it became customary to light candles at a Berit Mila.
This discussion reminds us of the profound wisdom underlying all our time-honored customs and traditions. These customs were not made up randomly; they all have a firm basis in our Halachic tradition and should be faithfully observed.
