DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1.48 MB)
If a Mohel Performing a Berit on Shabbat Cannot Perform the Mesisa

Hacham Eliyahu Shama Ha’levi (Chief Rabbi of Aleppo, d. 1814), in his work Machshireh Mila (12:44), addresses the case of a Mohel who performs a Berit on Shabbat for a child on the child’s eighth day, but is unable to perform the Mesisa – the extraction of blood from the wound after the circumcision. This can happen in the case of a Mohel with an infection in his mouth, and could thus endanger the child if he performs the Mesisa. The Shulhan Aruch rules that the two stages of the act of circumcision (the "Mila" and "Peri’a") may not be divided among two different Mohalim when a Berit is performed on Shabbat, and the question thus becomes whether somebody else can perform the Mesisa if the Mohel performed the entire circumcision.

Hacham Eliyahu Shama writes that since it is considered dangerous to perform a Berit on an infant without Mesisa, this situation falls under the category of "Piku’ah Nefesh" – a potentially life-threatening condition – such that the Shabbat prohibitions are suspended. Even though extracting blood from a wound is normally forbidden on Shabbat, it is allowed in this circumstance, due to the potential risk for the child if Mesisa is not performed.

However, the Hacham adds that a Mohel who creates such a situation requires atonement. If a Mohel knows that he would be unable to perform Mesisa, he must not perform the Mila at all, and should instead have another Mohel perform the Berit in his stead.

Summary: If a Mohel has an infection in his mouth, such that he cannot perform the Mesisa after the Berit, he should not perform a Berit on Shabbat; a different Mohel should perform the Berit. If, however, the Mohel with an infection did perform a Berit on Shabbat, somebody else should perform the Mesisa.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Does One Recite a Beracha Over a Secondary Food That Was Brought Only After He Recited the Beracha Over the Primary Food?
If One Eats the Secondary Food Before the Primary Food
The Beracha Over Cereal with Milk, and Yogurt with Fruit
If One Recited a Beracha Over a Cracker With Cheese, and Some Cheese Was Left Over
If a Person Changes His Mind and Decides Not to Eat After Listening to a Beracha
If a Person Mistakenly Concluded “Al Ha’mihya” With the Words “Al Ha’perot”
Fulfilling One’s Requirement by Listening to a Beracha Recited by Another Person
The Requirement of “Shem U’malchut” in a Beracha
Does the Beracha of “Gefen” Cover Other Beverages if One Does Not Intend to Drink More Wine?
Halachot Concerning the Berachot Over Wine, Fruit Juice and Coffee
Does One Recite a Beracha Over Beer or Whiskey Drunk During a Maal if HaMosi Was Recited?
Does One Recite a Beracha Over Tea and Coffee Drunk After a Meal If Ha'Mosi Was Recited ?
Must One Recite a Beracha Over Water or Wine During a Meal Where One Recited Ha'motzi?
Is Wine Still Considered A ‘Bore Peri HaGefen’ And Acceptable for Kiddush If It is Diluted
The Sequence of Berachot When Eating Cake With Coffee
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found