Brit milah is the Jewish ritual of circumcision traditionally performed on the eighth day after a boy’s birth.
The Hebrew phrase means “covenant of circumcision.” It refers to the covenant between God and Abraham described in Genesis, where circumcision is established as a sign of that covenant. The ceremony is therefore both a physical rite and a religious act of belonging.
A specially trained practitioner called a mohel performs the circumcision. The ceremony commonly includes blessings, the child’s Hebrew name, and a festive meal for family and guests. If the baby is medically unwell, the ceremony is postponed until it is safe.
Brit milah is distinct from pidyon haben, the redemption of the firstborn son, which is a separate ceremony usually held on the thirty-first day after birth. Jewish communities differ in ceremonial details, but the covenantal meaning remains central.