How to Choose a Mohel

Can you give me advice on how to choose a Mohel for my son?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question!

The best Mohel to use…is the father! As with almost every mitzva, it is better to do the mitzva yourself rather than to have someone do it on your behalf.

But of course, most fathers are not trained Mohels so for the child’s safety we must seek someone to perform the mitzva of Mila on our behalf.

It is best if the mother and father discuss the various Mohel candidates and come to a decision together. However, ultimately, the final say goes to the father as the mitzva of Mila is primarily a mitzva upon the father to fulfill. The mother only takes charge of this mitzva when there is no father to do so. 

The Mohel one chooses should be properly certified to perform the bris. He should also be well-known to be a God fearing and pious individual.

Once one has hired a certain Mohel to perform the bris one must not cancel him in favor of someone else unless the alternative fellow is someone with a close connection to the family (who wasn’t previously available when the first Mohel was hired) or is someone distinctly more pious or qualified.

One must never use a non-Jew to perform a bris no matter how good a doctor he may be. This is because a bris is not merely a circumcision, but rather, it is the entry gate into the Jewish people. Only a member of the nation can welcome and admit someone else into the nation. Even a non-religious Jew should not be chosen to perform a bris.

Kiddushin 29a; Or Zarua , Mila 107:5; YD 264:1 Taz, YD 264:5; Shach, CM 184:4, 382:4; Ketzot Hachoshen 382:2; Aruch Hashulchan, YD 261:5.