Jewish Birth, Adoption & Circumcision

Ceremony for families opting out of circumcision.

Bay Area

Brit Shalom Families Project

In partnership with the Sprout initiative of Jewish Federation of the East Bay, the Brit Shalom Families Project offers support and guidance to families opting out of circumcision.

http://www.beyondthebris.com,%20www.celebratingbritshalom.com,%20www.lisabravermoss.com

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San Francisco

Brit Shalom Celebrant List

Brit Shalom is a non-cutting naming ceremony for newborn Jewish boys whose parents wish to forego circumcision. It is similar to the naming ceremony for baby girls.

http://www.britshalom.info

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East Bay

Hasidah

Voice of hope and compassion raising awareness of infertility; connecting people to support; helping to reduce financial barriers to treatment in the Jewish community.

http://www.hasidah.org

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North Bay

Donor Concierge

Egg donor and surrogate search service that help Jewish parents find Jewish egg donors and surrogate mothers.

https://www.donorconcierge.com/egg-donor-search/ethnicities/jewish-egg-donors

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Bay Area

Adoption Connection

Provides support and services to adoptive parents and birth mothers during and after pregnancy. Full-service, non-profit, licensed adoption agency and open adoption leader has assisted with over 3,000 adoptions since 1985.

http://www.adoptionconnection.org

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San Francisco

Hebrew Free Loan – Chapter 3

Provides interest-free loans up to $20,000 to help Jewish residents of Northern California cover the costs of fertility treatments or international or domestic adoption.

http://www.hflasf.org

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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.

East Bay

Mark M. Rubenstein, M.D.

Diversity sensitive, personalized brit milah ceremonies serving entire Bay Area. Interfaith education. 40+ years experience. Questions welcome; references available. Also officiates at brit bat/simchat bat.

http://www.mohelrubenstein.com

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Rabbi Gil Leeds 


Certified traditional mohel, trained by expert mohelim including Rabbi Chanan Feld z"l. Caring and professional, services Jewish families of varied observance levels.

http://www.BayAreaMohel.com

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Stuart Avram Zangwill, M.D.

Performs spiritual, meaningful brit milah ceremonies for all affiliations and interfaith couples. Board certified in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospital Medicine with over 25 years experience performing circumcisions with anesthesia/pain control.

http://www.zmohel.com


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North Bay

Rabbi Moshe Trager

Northern California's only full-time mohel. More than 5000 brissim have been performed. Interfaith and all family types welcome. Modern pain control, unmatched speed and precision.

http://www.CaliMohel.com

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Bay Area

Debra Weiss-Ishai, M.D.

Certified mohel and board-certified pediatrician performing traditional, personalized and enriching brit milah ceremonies. Inclusive of all affiliations. Pain control/local anesthetic used.

http://www.TheBrisDoctor.com

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Brit Shalom Families Project

In partnership with the Sprout initiative of Jewish Federation of the East Bay, the Brit Shalom Families Project offers support and guidance to families opting out of circumcision.

http://www.beyondthebris.com,%20www.celebratingbritshalom.com,%20www.lisabravermoss.com

Learn More

Piser & Piser Mohelim

Practicing Bay Area urologist/hand surgeon; husband/wife mohelim team, trained and certified by Hebrew Union College; performing personalized, spiritually enlightening brit milah and hatafat dam brit (for previously circumcised converts) since 1991.

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Peninsula

Rabbi Avi Lebowitz

Rabbi Avi Lebowitz has been doing bris and circumcision in the bay area for over 10 years. He guides and assists families through this major milestone in their life.

http://www.baymohel.com

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San Francisco

Brit Shalom Celebrant List

Brit Shalom is a non-cutting naming ceremony for newborn Jewish boys whose parents wish to forego circumcision. It is similar to the naming ceremony for baby girls.

http://www.britshalom.info

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Eric Tabas, M.D.

Board certified OB/GYN, as well as a board-certified Reform mohel practicing in San Francisco for over 20 years. Personalizes each brit milah ceremony to joyfully celebrate life.

http://www.erictabasmd.com


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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.

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.