Circumcision | Brit milah

Brit milah refers to the religious circumcision of Jewish boys. During the procedure, the foreskin of the male organ is removed. Circumcision is traditionally performed on the eighth day after birth, provided there are no medical reasons against it. Brit milah is one of the most important religious traditions in Judaism and has been practised for thousands of years.

Religious and symbolic significance

In Judaism, Brit milah holds central religious significance. It marks the child’s entry into Abraham’s covenant with God and is regarded as the visible sign of this covenant. Its foundation can be found in the Book of Genesis: “God further said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you and your offspring to come throughout the ages shall keep My covenant. This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your offspring to come: every male among you shall be circumcised.’” Brit milah is one of the central commandments of the Torah and holds great importance in Jewish religious understanding.

The ceremony

Brit milah is traditionally performed by an experienced mohel and is embedded in a religious ceremony. This includes blessings and often a festive meal shared with family and community afterwards. Circumcision is generally carried out on the eighth day after birth, unless medical reasons make a postponement necessary. The specific form of the ceremony may vary depending on religious tradition and community. What all streams share is the central religious significance of Brit milah for Jewish life.

Historical background and global context

Brit milah is one of the oldest religious traditions in Judaism and has been practised for thousands of years. Throughout history, however, Jewish communities were repeatedly prohibited from practising circumcision or faced restrictions in doing so, for example during Hellenistic rule over Judea in antiquity or later under the Soviet regime. Nevertheless, Brit milah remained a core element of Jewish identity and tradition. To this day, it continues to be widely respected and practised in both religious and secular Jewish families.

At the same time, circumcision is widespread throughout the world and is among the most common surgical procedures overall. According to estimates, around one quarter of the world’s male population is circumcised – for religious, cultural or also regularly medical reasons.

Public debate

Brit milah is repeatedly the subject of social and political debate in Europe and also in Switzerland. These discussions focus in particular on questions relating to the welfare of the child, bodily self-determination and freedom of religion. For the Jewish community, Brit milah has fundamental religious significance and is closely linked to the ability to practise Jewish life freely. Demands for restrictions or bans are therefore perceived with particular sensitivity.

In Switzerland, the religious circumcision of Jewish boys is permitted. In legal and social debate, a balancing of interests takes place between the child’s right to bodily integrity, the rights of parents within the framework of parental responsibility, and freedom of religion and conscience. This protects not only the right to profess a religion freely, but also the right to practise religious traditions. At the same time, freedom of religion is not absolute and may be restricted under certain conditions. When introducing the criminal offence relating to female genital mutilation, the Swiss Parliament deliberately decided not to extend the provision to male circumcision. One of the decisive considerations was that male circumcision was regarded as a comparatively minor procedure and could not be equated with female genital mutilation.

SIG recommendations

Protecting the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Swiss Federal Constitution is one of the SIG’s central concerns. The debate surrounding Brit milah touches on fundamental questions of freedom of religion and social coexistence. The SIG recognises that circumcision can be discussed controversially within society. At the same time, it points out that freedom of religion is a central fundamental right in a pluralistic society. For the Jewish community, the possibility of practising Brit milah is one of the fundamental prerequisites for a self-determined Jewish life in Switzerland. The SIG therefore advocates for the debate to be conducted in an objective and differentiated manner and with respect for religious minorities.

Within the Jewish community, the SIG points out that the specific religious practice and the form of the ceremony are the responsibility of the respective communities and rabbinates. Against this background, the SIG has formulated recommendations for mohalim practising in Switzerland. These provide, among other things, that mohalim should possess appropriate training and experience, that parents should be informed in advance about possible risks, and that the procedure should be carried out under suitable hygienic conditions and with the necessary medical precautions. In addition, cooperation with medical professionals is recommended.