Whereas the Mitzva (commandment) of Brit Mila (a form of circumcision) was taught in last week’s Sidra, the Talmud (Kidushin 29a) explains that this verse teaches that the obligation to circumcise a baby falls upon the baby’s father. If the father cannot or does not fulfil this obligation, the responsibility falls upon the Beit Din to ensure that the infant has a brit mila

Unusually for a legal work, the Tur (an early codification of Jewish law, 13/14 century) goes into some detail to discuss this Mitzva rather than simply codify it. He explains that it is a ‘great’ Mitzva, as Abraham was not called ‘shaleim’ (whole) until after his brit mila. In addition, when a father performs a brit mila for his son, he saves the son from the penalty for not having brit mila which is karait, spiritual excision.

Aruch Hashulchan (19^th century Lithuanian halachist) notes that this Mitzva was given to Abraham, long before the time of Moses. Indeed, Moses is punished for his laxity in not performing Brit Mila on his sons (see Shemot 4:24-6)

Sefer HaChinuch (13th century discussion of the Mitzvot/commandments) writes that Brit Mila teaches us that we are not completed physically whole, still needing to perform the Brit Mila to achieve this. This realisation should inspire us to spiritual and other heights, telling us that we are, in a sense, a work in progress in every field of our activity and that our own efforts can help us to improve.

Of course, this explanation works for men, but what about for women? Perhaps Sefer HaChinuch is suggesting that women are created more spiritually and physically whole than men and thus do not need anything like a Brit Mila – consonant with the idea of women having bina yeteira – extra discernment than men (see Talmud Nida 45b). There is more to say on this, but such discussion would break my word limit!

The Tur continues in the next siman (chapter), as does the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law), that the father can appoint somebody else through the laws of agency to perform the Brit Mila, as is standard practice today.