The Rama rules in the Shulchan Aruch that a woman should preferably not serve as sandek at the bris (circumcision) of a baby if a man is available, due to its being considered immodest. In most cases this is not a practical question, as a quorum of at least ten men is present at most bris ceremonies. However the advent of coronavirus has led to unusual situations arising which call for unconventional solutions.
Mendy and Rivky Zaklas serve as Chabad shluchim (emissaries to the Jewish community) in the tiny Russian town of Bryansk. The Haredim10 site reports that Rivky Zaklas tries to call everyone on her contacts list on their birthday and wish them a happy birthday. A couple of months ago she called a young woman who had visited the Bryansk community a year or so beforehand but had never returned. When she called, the young woman told her that she is pregnant and would soon give birth to a baby boy.
Rivky offered to be available to help in whatever way she might need, especially in assisting preparations for the baby boy’s bris. This week the woman called Rivky stating she had given birth to the baby and would like to make a bris for him. Her only stipulation was that because of the contagious nature of COVID-19, she wanted it to be very small with the only people present being the mohel Rabbi Zaklas and his wife Rivky.
This past Friday the bris took place and because Rabbi Zaklas was the mohel, and the father of the baby is not Jewish, Rivky Zaklas was appointed to be the sandek!
There are many halachos that apply now due to coronavirus, such as porch minyanim and zoom brachos and condolence visits but a Chabad woman acting as sandek would have been less than ideal, until now!
The story also underlines the power of one phone call. It is entirely possible that a young lady married to a gentile would not have considered circumcising her baby. Maybe she did not even know about the mitzvah. Rivky Zaklas simply called her up to say happy birthday and this led to one more Jewish child entering the covenant of Avraham.
We have to be careful to follow Shulchon Oruch. The fact that the Shlucho made the phone call is greatly commendable but it can not change a Halocho. We must be careful about that. The Moel could have been the Sandok. This is permissable. It is generally not done as it is not very conveniant and the great Kibbud of Sandak is given to a grandfather, relative or special personality. What should be very clear is that one cannot “bend” or “compromise” Halocho. The greatness of the Shlucho stands and her great deeds should be emulated as she serves as… Read more »
It takes special skill and confidence for mohel to be sandek himself so in this case where the mohel wasnt comfortable with that it was the right for his wife to hold the baby (the question is do you call her a sandekis or is her holding the baby merely for medical assistance
I’m sure that the shluchim consulted a Rav in this matter and followed his psak!!!!!
This commenter is to be commended for invoking the halacha, though he does so incorrectly. The Rama says “A woman should not be be sandekit where it’s possible to have a man do it because of tzniut.” I.e., the woman should not be sandek, where there is a man available, is because of the imperative to keep the genders separate (see Tashbatz at length who criticizes the practice of mothers serving as sandek, since this entails their entering and staying in the men’s section during the bris. Hence the custom for the mother to bring the baby until the men’s… Read more »
ain l’yisha lhyos sandok B’makom sh’afshor b’yish…She shouldn’t be Sandok in a situation that a man can be… It is not easy for the mohel to be Sandok as well, it requires a lot of skill and control, perhaps the rabbi doesn’t feel safe doing so, please do not judge and instead praise the shlucha for her actions and big zchus she had , Hashem out her in that special situation so she can have this zchus as well.
kol hakavod Rabbi and mrs Zaklas, keep inspiring us and the world.
The stated reason for the Ramo’s psak is because of Znius.
If the only people by the Bris were the baby, his mother, the Mohel and HIS wife, then there was NO CONCERN FOR ZNIUS!
There’s nothing non-znuit about holding a baby!
You clearly misunderstood the entire discussion
Thanks for sticking up for the truth tho
Pretty cool. What a zechus. May this Yiddishe boy grow up with only brachos!
Beautiful story. What a zchus!
Awesome story
Dear commentators,
Unless you are an actual Posek (Halachik Authority), it’s inappropriate to offer strong opinions without being such an authority.
Certainly, Halacha needs to be adhered to! But an average reader can must be non judgemental and offer words of praise for the incredible act of dedication that these wonderful Shluchim did under these very trying circumstances.
כל הכבוד להשלוחים 👏👏👏
Wasn’t Moshe Rabainu’s wife the “Mohel”and Sandakit for her son when her husband couldn’t .
After the Torah is given, it’s a machlokes haposekim whether a woman can be a mohel. There have been times when they did, in extreme cases, such as during the Holocaust (there was an episode like that personally witnessed by the Bluzhever Rebbe zt”l).
So what is the Halacha today in such a circumstance
what does that mean?
maybe many new leniencies in halacha due to the pandemic but def not NEW halachos… this should be edited.
awesome story!!
Amazing story! The power of a phone call! Wow! Thank you R’ Mendy and Rivky for being amazing shluchim! May Hashem give you the strength to continue inspiring yidden!!
just curious. how much jew in the Bryansk? how many shomrey mitzvot? minyan etc? was working many years ago in the same region do not remember any Jewish activity