By Rabbi Yehuda Trestman
SAN DIEGO — Like all firsts in life, there are always more preparations involved associated with an extra dose of anxiety especially when that day is a Bris. My wife Devora and I were so excited when Svetlana and Michael Kritzer joined our Shul several months ago.
With Svetlana carrying a baby inside, we knew that there was a 50-50 chance that there would be a Bris in store. We soon became aware that a Mohel (a Rabbi trained in doing circumcision) would be needed and we were so excited. Simchas in Shuls are always welcome and a great opportunity for more togetherness, joy and an opportunity to perform more Mivtzot ( like putting on tefillin on men who do not so regularly). This is especially so important at a time like now when our brethren in Eretz Yisroel need a Spiritual Dome and the Mitzvot we do here have a very positive effect on the IDF successes and victories there.
There is a special Jewish custom that in the months leading up to the delivery, the father opens up the Aron Kodesh to bring out the Sefer Torah. The Zohar says, “When the congregation takes out the Torah Scroll, the Heavenly Gates of Mercy are opened, and G‑d’s love is aroused.” The husband opening the Gates of Heaven hopefully elicits G‑d’s merciful blessing that the birth be easy and without complications.
And so it was, every Monday, Thursday, and Shabbos Michael was here at the Bais Betzalel Chabad of North County Inland to open up the Ark to take out the Sefer Torah.
This paid off. Eight days ago Baby Kritzer was born with a safe and joyous landing into the Kritzer’s lives.
Today the 29th of Cheshvan, the week of Parsha Toldos, telling of the birth of Jacob our Forefather, and one day before Rosh Chodesh Kislev the month of Chanukah Miracles, Baby boy Kritzer took upon himself his first Mitzvah and received his name Levi Gavriel Ben Tzvi h’Levi. Although the father has the obligation to perform the circumcision, this is given over by a verbal proxy by the father to a trained Rabbi in performing circumcision
Everyone present remarked how Rabbi Nacham Kreiman, the Mohel, performed the Bris skillfully, all the while making the parents feel at ease and bringing joy and laughter to those present
The Mitzvah of Bris Milah was first introduced to the Jewish people in the Torah portion Lech Lecha in the Book of Bereishes in which Abraham was commanded by G-d to become circumcised. Our sages teach us that only after Abraham had fulfilled all 612 commandments voluntarily before the Torah was given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, did Abraham perform the Mitzvah of Bris Milah. Why did Avraham wait till 99 until G-d commanded him to do this? Simply put, human actions express the limited will of the person, while a mitzvah is an expression of G-d’s infinite will and connects the individual with his Creator in a very true and deep eternal way beyond logic and reason.Although Abraham was the first Jew circumcised at 99 years of age , Yitzchak, his son, was the first Jewish male that was circumcised truly on the 8th day.
We learn from the Torah Portion in Vayera that Abraham and Sara held a great celebration feast after the Bris Milah of their son Yitzchak.
With friends, family and Shul members attending the Bris Milah for Levi Gavriel, we all rejoiced in this milestone and Jewish Life cycle event, by having a celebratory meal, making a L’Chaim to his father and Mother, and with hearty Mazal Tovs extended to the extended Kritzer and Zabezhinsky families.
After all was said and done, our Chabad house here in North County Inland merited to celebrate the inauguration of another Jewish child into (G-ds Army) Tzivos Hashem. May we be all meritorious in celebrating in the final redemption with Moshiach Tzidkenu.
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Rabbi Trestman is spiritual leader of the Bais Betzalel chabad of North County Inland.