Brit Milah/Bris

When Elliot was born on Tuesday, he came into the world at a very interesting time in the realm of Jewish Law (Halachah). He was born after the sun set, but the stars had not come out yet - a bit of a twilight time. According to Halachah, a Jewish boy is to be circumcized on the 8th day of his life, and days go from sunset to sunset, as opposed to midnight to midnight. Although he was born after sunset, it was not quite the next day, so our rabbi, Hal Rudin-Luria, advised us that in order to make sure Elliot's bris is Halachik, his bris will need to take place on Wednesday, April 8th. If his bris were to be performed on the 7th, it may be too soon and, therefore, not official.

As it just so happens, Passover begins at sundown on April 8th and the bris must be performed before the holiday begins. We contacted our Mohelet, and she advised that she'll be able to perform the bris on the 8th, but it will have to be at 4:00 PM. This will be moments before Passover starts!

April 8th is a significant day in Judaism, because it is also Ta'anit Bechorot, the day of the fasting of the first-born sons. Because G-d spared the first-born Jewish sons in Egypt, all first-born males must fast on the day before Passover begins, or they can attend a learning session (Siyyum) to avoid fasting and have one last bread meal before going to matzah. There is an exception to the fasting, and that is if you attend a brit milah/bris. Let's hear it for getting to eat on the 8th now!

April 8th is also significant because on this day Jews will be celebrating Birkat HaChammah, the Blessing of the Sun. Once every 28 years, when Passover begins at sundown on the fourth day of the week (Wednesday), the sun is at the same location in the sky as where it was when G-d created it back in Genesis. So all of these things together make Elliot's special day that much more special.