Hasidah
A voice of hope and compassion, raising awareness of infertility, connecting people to both support and help reduce financial barriers to treatment in the Jewish community.
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Birth, Adoption & Circumcision
Adoption & Infertility
Adoption Connection
Provides support and services to adoptive parents as well as to birth mothers during and after pregnancy. Full-service, nonprofit, licensed adoption agency and open adoption leader has assisted with over 3,000 adoptions since 1985.
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Donor Concierge
Egg donor and surrogate search service that helps Jewish parents find Jewish egg donors and surrogate mothers.
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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.
Santa Cruz / Monterey
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East Bay
Bay Area
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North Bay
Peninsula
San Francisco
Alternative Bris Support Group
Provides support and information on alternative brit ceremonies and medical, religious and cultural information for parents considering covenant/naming ceremonies without circumcision.
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.
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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.
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Stuart Avram Zangwill, M.D.
Performs spiritual, meaningful brit milah ceremonies for all affiliations and interfaith couples. Board-certified pediatrician with over 20 years experience performing circumcisions with anesthesia/pain control.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Rabbi Avi Lebowitz
The rabbi walks families through the ceremony and explains the advantages of using a mohel regardless of one's affiliation and background.
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Brit Shalom Celebrant List
Brit Shalom is a non-cutting naming ceremony for newborn Jewish boys whose parents wish to avoid circumcision. It is similar to the naming ceremony for baby girls.
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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.
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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.