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Ask a Jew: What is the term used for a Jew who circumcises newborns?
You’re referring to a mohel, who circumcises newborn Jewish boys (if their caregivers want that).
MyJewishLearning.com states “the first mohel (usually pronounced so it rhymes with ‘boil’) was a 99-year-old ex-shepherd with no medical training whatsoever.” Ha ha — they’re talking about Abraham.
It’s my understanding that Spokane has had at least one doctor in the last few decades who has served the community as a mohel, and Montana’s Glacier Jewish Community seems to have one too.
If you’re curious about why so many 21st-century Jews choose circumcision, check out a previous “Ask a Jew” column on the subject.
