Jewish Birth, Adoption & Circumcision
Alternatives to Brit Milah
Ceremony for families opting out of circumcision.
Nonprofit that supports non-circumcising Jews and educates about the diverse perspectives on Jewish circumcision and its alternatives. Offerings include free baby-welcoming ceremony for non-circumcising families and a directory of welcoming clergy.
Learn More
Adoption & Infertility
Provides support and services to adoptive parents and birth mothers during and after pregnancy. Full-service nonprofit licensed adoption agency and open adoption leader. A division of SF-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services.
Learn More
Egg donor and surrogate search service that helps Jewish parents find Jewish egg donors and surrogate mothers.
Learn More
Bay Area Brit Milah (Circumcision)
The ritual of brit milah is performed to symbolize the covenant between God and the people of Israel. The brit (or bris) takes place on the eighth day of a male baby's life (provided there are no health problems). Traditionally, the brit is performed by a mohel, a ritual circumciser familiar with the relevant laws and customs.
Certified traditional mohel, trained by expert mohelim including Rabbi Chanan Feld z"l. Caring and professional, serves Jewish families of all levels of observance.
Learn More
Performs spiritual, meaningful brit milah ceremonies for all affiliations and interfaith couples. Board certified in both pediatrics and pediatric hospital medicine, with more than 25 years of experience performing circumcisions with anesthesia/pain control.
Learn More
Certified mohel and pediatrician providing traditional, personalized and spiritual brit milah ceremonies for 21 years. Welcomes families of all types and affiliations. Uses pain control/local anesthetic. Serves the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and beyond.
Learn More
Nonprofit that supports non-circumcising Jews and educates about the diverse perspectives on Jewish circumcision and its alternatives. Offerings include free baby-welcoming ceremony for non-circumcising families and a directory of welcoming clergy.
Learn More
Bay Area urologist/hand surgeon, husband/wife mohelim team, trained and certified by Hebrew Union College; performs personalized, spiritually enlightening brit milah and hatafat dam brit (for previously circumcised converts) since 1991.
Learn More
Northern California's only full-time mohel. More than 7,000 brissim have been performed. Interfaith and all family types are welcome. Modern pain control, unmatched speed and precision.
Learn More
Certified mohel and pediatric circumcision. The rabbi has been performing bris ceremonies and infant circumcisions in the Bay Area for more than a decade, guiding and assisting families through this major milestone.
Learn More
Board-certified OB/GYN and board-certified Reform mohel practicing in San Francisco for over 20 years. Personalized brit milah ceremonies joyfully celebrate new life.
Learn More
Brit Bat/Simchat Bat (Rejoicing for Daughter)
The birth of a baby girl is traditionally marked in the synagogue when her father or parents are called to the Torah on the Sabbath to give the newborn her Hebrew name. The past decade has seen the development of various naming ceremonies for girls. In fact, there is a growing liturgy around the brit bat, and various alternative rituals have been proposed. This ritual is frequently performed on the eighth day of a baby girl’s life.
Pidyon Haben (First-born Redemption)
A pidyon haben, redemption of a son, takes place 30 days after the birth of a first-born baby boy. The tradition is based on the belief that first-born sons were to serve God in the Temple. To redeem them from that obligation, five shekels were given to the Temple priests, who then served in the Temple instead. The ceremony today usually involves a symbolic charitable donation.
Circumcision Alternatives
