01a. B'rit Milah (Part A)

About this episode

This episode discusses the significance of circumcision as a covenant sign and its implications in the biblical narrative.

To neglect circumcision (b’rit milah) is to neglect the chosen sign of the covenant, and consequently, it is rejection of the covenant itself. Avraham did not hesitate to both circumcise himself and the males of his household. Looking forward at its effect in the biblical narratives, we learn that it was to become a unique marker, outwardly identifying those males of the offspring of Avraham, as inheritors of the magnificent promises that HaShem was making with this man. It did not, nor does it now serve to secure those promises through personal effort. What is more, the sign of circumcision was to be an indicator that all subsequent male covenant participants were adopting the same faith that Avraham possessed! Obviously it was incumbent upon the faithful father to pass this sign onto his son; 8-day old baby boys do not circumcise themselves. The promises were of faith (read Romans chapter 4 carefully). To be 100% sure, the Torah says that the promises were given to him before he was circumcised (Ibid. 10, 11)! This is why, after HaShem promised that his seed would be as numerous as the stars (15:5, 6), Avraham was credited with being righteous—because he believed the…

People in this episode

Host: Ariel ben-Lyman HaNaviy

Topics covered

• circumcision
• covenant
• faith
• Abraham
• Jewish traditions

Keywords

• b'rit milah
• circumcision
• covenant
• Abraham
• faith
• Torah
• promises

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: HaShem

Books & works: Romans, Torah