BRYANSK, RUSSIA (VINnews) — The Rama rules in the Shulchan Aruch that a woman should preferably not serve as sandek at the bris (circumcision) of a baby if a man is available, due to it’s being considered immodest. In most cases this is not a practical question, as a quorum of at least ten men is present at most bris ceremonies. However the advent of coronavirus has led to unusual situations arising which call for unconventional solutions.
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Mendy and Rivky Zaklas serve as Chabad shluchim (emissaries to the Jewish community) in the tiny Russian town of Bryansk. The Haredim10 site reports that Rivky Zaklas tries to call everyone on her contacts list on their birthday and wish them a happy birthday. A couple of months ago she called a young woman who had visited the Bryansk community a year or so beforehand but had never returned. When she called, the young woman told her that she is pregnant and would soon give birth to a baby boy.
Rivky offered to be available to help in whatever way she might need, especially in assisting preparations for the baby boy’s bris. This week the woman called Rivky stating she had given birth to the baby and would like to make a bris for him. Her only stipulation was that because of the contagious nature of COVID-19, she wanted it to be very small with the only people present being the mohel Rabbi Zalkas and his wife Rivky.
This past Friday the bris took place and because Rabbi Zalkas was the mohel, and the father of the baby is not Jewish, Rivky Zalkas was appointed to be the sandek!
There are many new halachos being practised due to coronavirus such as porch minyanim and zoom brachos and condolence visits but a Chabad woman acting as sandek would have been unthinkable until now!
The story also underlines the power of one phone call. It is entirely possible that a young lady married to a gentile would not have considered circumcising her baby. Maybe she did not even know about the mitzvah. Rivky Zalkas simply called her up to say happy birthday and this led to one more Jewish child entering the covenant of Avraham.
And no one but chabbad would have any contact with a woman who’s married to a goy. And that doesn’t make chabbad special. It makes them wrong. Klal Yisroel does things for a reason. And if collateral damage is that a Jewish boy doesn’t get a bris well that’s her fault too for the life she chose.
Mr Anon,
You must be mistaken in your harsh words. I’m no Chabadnik, but this pure innocent neshama is 100% a yid k’halacha, is the very definition of a Tinuk Sh’neshbua, and he should be welcomed with open arms to the Briso Shel Avraham avenu. As Yidden we believe that every neshama that is brought into this world, was handpicked by the Bashefer for a reason. This little yingle may be brought up in a non-frum home, our perhaps one day he will he inspired to be chozer btshuva, and he is already A Mahul. If given that opportunity Mr. Anon, if Hakudosh Boruch Hu sent you this opportunity, what right do you have to turn him down?
On a separate note, do you know anything what so ever about this mother that you judge her so harshly?
Anon you don’t make any sense but anything goes here in the comment section.
You are a sonei yisroel. What is wrong with you?
With your attitude, I pray that no one on your family will ever need to use chabad’s services.
Oh and the question is misplaced too. A kosher bris can be done by a woman too, the baby doesnt have to be on anyones lap, a table is kosher too.
There is no need for any sandek!
You’re correct on this one Tziporah the wife of Moshe Rabainu did the bris mila on her son as it says in Parshas Shmos
A woman can serve as sandik so long as she wears a sheital not made from avodah zarah indian hair .
BSD
Kudos to the Chavadnik coupke for mai taing the Kesher and for oerforming the Bris.
Kudos to the Mother for making sure her Jewish son has a Bris.
My only question is wether or not the non jewish father should have been invited to the Bris?
Why does all people setring in religious city have to comment on what they dont dven know?
Why does the web site need to publicize this things toward those kikd of publics…
Chabad is following strong and know rabbonims so dont take you self as if you are the posseik hadoir… Do you life and avoide lashon haro on other
Of course it happened in a Chabad shul. A young boy, a Russian immigrant, became shomer mitzvos. His older sister, married to a non-Jew had a baby boy. Her younger brother was determined to make sure the baby had a proper bris. With the help of the local shluchim it was all arranged. The father was present and during the subsequent meal, everyone praised the father for allowing the bris to take place. With plenty of vodka in him, he replied, “it’s no big deal to me, my grandmother was jewish!” After a bit of questioning, it turns out that it was his maternal grandmother, which makes him, the father a Yid as well. The father eventually had a bris, the family is shomer mitzvos, and the baby had a day school education and spent a year learning in Eretz Yisroel!
Rav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch once wrote that anyone whose critiques arrive under the guise of anonymity ( such as the OP, “Anon21”) is a coward and deserves no response.
a mohel can be a sandak at the same time – i heard from some that it is actually easier that way – i have seen with my own eyes both Rav Yaakov Meir Shechter shlit”a and the Skverrer Rebbe shlit”a serve as both sandak and mohel simultaneously – not saying this is wrong, maybe this rabbi has a had time doing it this way, but it is a practice among some tzaddikim who are mohalim
Guys guys ppl ppl. Calm down. I never said that the boy shouldn’t have a bris. Obviously when we hear about such a boy we move mountains to get him a bris. I’m talking about the contact that the shliach maintained with the mother who’s married to a goy.
And to the one who said the boy is a koshere yid just like everyone else happens to be wrong but that’s not the point. It’s about the mother not about the kid.
Now if you guys disagree with me that’s fine. But as far as I know the only group of orthodox people that actively court Jews that have married goyim are chabbad. You can explain that however you want
Can anyone explain please why the mohel is wearing a Kittel?
I can’t believe that anyone would bash any Rav for giving a Jewish baby boy a bris.
He wants to match the white pillow that the baby is laying on .
Since the whole idea of sandek was probably made up in the time of chazal anyway, so for the sake of shalom who cares
Actually there are two opinions about this;
Some believe that you make a Bris. The others believe you have a Brit.
It’s not a white kittel it’s a lab coat that they put in bec it’s a medical procedure.
I’m afraid to say anything as everyone here are such great Talmidim Chochamim. The only thing not said is Keruv Rachokim is a Mitzvah DeOrytah. See Rambam sefer HaMitzvos, positive #3.
See Sifri Devorim 6:5
Beurey HaGra on Avos 1:12
Misilas Yesharim 19
All the above tell us it is a Mitvah to bring back HaShems children under the Wings of the Shechenah. That would include one who married a goy. Todays Tenukai Shenishba are not only a subject discussed in Halacha they are flesh and blood. Those who feel they are exempt by learning Torah are mistaken. How can one love HaShem with all their hearts when so many Jewish people are lost to HaShem? The Shechenah crys out for her children? Isnt that what we say on Tisha Be Av? It doesn’t make a difference today whether one is a Lutvak a Chasid Satmer or Chabad we MUST BELIEVE WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.
Also go purchase a copy of Reb Aryeh Kaplan’s book Reaching Out. We all need to read it. May we All stay and safe in these uncertain times.