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  Anonymous -11 years ago

  Thank you
  Thank you Yossels (Chicago) for the warm words, and may you only tell patients that they are healthy!
  
  Behatzlocho!
  
  
  

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• Y(

  Yossel (Chicago) -11 years ago

  Milah
  B"H
  
  
  
  Wow R. Garelk. I just listened to your class and as usual, I am uplifted and very inspired not only by the beauty and depth of the Rebbe's explanation but also by the passion and excitement that you have in teaching it.
  
  
  
  A few personal thoughts:
  
  
  
  You mentioned that Milah is a unique Mitzvah because Hashem's Kidusha becomes permanently one (in a visible way) with our body. As a doctor, this makes me think of our great responsibility to care for the body and G-d forbid, not to do any type of permanent "artistic" thing to the body (which would create a sign in the body that is the opposite of Kidusha).
  
  
  
  On a more positive note, I think the average person often goes through an inner struggle in his mind when deciding if he is going to have the courage to be the FIRST to do something (even when that thing is obviously good). It is VERY intimidating to be the first. One thing that is clear from this Sicha is that if a person can rise above his own personal level (the street view) and look at things from a higher perspective (the satellite view), he will see that like Avrohom Aveinu, a person's actions aren't only for himself. On the contrary, a person's actions can "open a channel" of goodness that can help and effect large numbers of people in the future! This alone should provide the energy to move us from doubt and inaction to groundbreaking action!
  
  
  
  Thank you for taking on this groundbreaking project of teaching the Rebbe's holy Sichos in your unique style. Yesher Koach!
  
  
  
  
  

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• T

  Tzemach -11 years ago

  Q to rabbi garelik
  in your class you said that it is important that the baby has pain during the Bris, what I’d like to understand is why do older people that need to get the Bris done later in life, why do they use anesthesia if pain is a important part of the Bris?
  

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  • I

    Isaac -11 years ago

    Re: Q to rabbi garelik
    I heared that many opinuons allow for anesthesia at a bris. So why don't we do that at the bris of an adult, so they don't feel the pain? And why not even with children, so they too do not feel any pain? Even with anesthesis the body is still lowly and "tachtonim"?
    
    
    
    Rabbi G, are there such opinions? What is the logic of the argument? Why the differing opinions?
    
    
    
    And I still don't understand why the need for blood and pain in order to get it into the body?
    
    
    
    Thanks

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    Anonymous -11 years ago

    Re: Q to rabbi garelik
    בס"ד
    
    Tzemach, שי
    
    Thank you for your wonderful question and observation.
    
    
    
    Actually, the Rebbe in the Sicha, in footnotes 35 and 36 notes some of the Halachik ramifications of anesthesia etc. namely the responsa "Imrei Yosher" (see below - and others,
    
    
    
    However, I would like to preface:
    
    
    
    This class is not a Halacho class rather in Likutei Sichos…. But I did assume, before I gave the class, that these questions may come up, therefore I gave the disclaimer in the beginning that we are not going into the practical applications of the Bris, rather, we will focus on the origin of the Mitzva. To elaborate (namely): 1. why at every Bris Mila we say “Lehachniso bibriso shel Avrohom Ovinu” which seems to contradict the Rambam and 2. Why is the original set up of this Mitzvah associated with pain – these topics alone took almost an hour and I did not say the whole Sicha – of course!
    
    
    
    Nevertheless, since you asked, I will address your question briefly (this is – after all – a “Yeshiva”….):
    
    
    
    It is clear from the Midrash and the Gemoro, that there is pain involved:  by Avrohom (as the Midrash quoted in the shiur), the baby (the Gemoro etc., also quoted in the shiur).
    
    
    
    Our generation is blessed today with a myriad of Sforim (and now – Rabbi Google…) that gather for us all the Halachik opinions, and especially in medical issues and ethics, and of course - anesthesia by a Bris.
    
    
    
    Most of them start off with the following introduction:
    
    
    
    The Responsa “Imrei Yosher” says,     (authored by Harav Meir Arik – passed away in 1926 - famous Rav in Galizia, (one of his most famous Talmidim was Reb Meir Shapiro of Lublin))
    
    that Chaza”l knew very well the concept of Anesthesia (See Bobo Kamo 85 A), and still throughout history there was never a talk about this regarding Bris Mila, because of the original set-up. And he continues to discuss whether a convert who is 30 years old may have anesthesia [and he ends “ch”v lechadesh chadoshos”].
    
    
    
    While many authorities agree with the “Imrei Yosher” there are some opinions from later Acharonim, who are not as stringent and say that every case has to be dealt with individually. They can be looked up in Igrois Koidesh of the Rebbe Vol.15 page 343, “Oitzar Habris”, “Nishmas Avrohom”, etc.
    
    
    
    I am not going to quote them here as it would be a long thesis (and is beyond the purpose of the class).
    
    Any further question regarding this should be taken up with your Mohel….
    
    
    
    I would like to make mention that “Encyclopedia Hilchatit Refuit” by Dr. Steinberg (of Shaarei Zedek Hospital in Yerusholayim)  writes (page 663) and I quote (my translation): Mila in newborns is performed without “Hardama” (anesthesia) and even from a medical point of view it is advisable not to use any anesthetic methods, even local anesthesia, because of possible  complications in this age”.Then he continues regarding grown-ups, the different opinions etc. In the footnotes he brings a vast number of sources (also from secular sources).
    
    
    
    Thank you again for your wonderful question and comment. Continue your studies….and comments!
    
     Behatzlocho!
    
    
    
    Rabbi Levi Y. Garelik

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    Anonymous -11 years ago

    Re: Q to rabbi garelik
    Tzemach,
    
    Thank you for your questions.
    
    My response ended up in Isaac's box below, I will have the tech support move it....
    
    
    
    However the reply also addresses Isaac's question...... thank you Isaac!
    
    
    
    Much Hatzlocho in your learning and keep those comments coming!
    
    
    
    Rabbi Levi Y Garelik
    
    
    

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Levi Garelik

• October 19, 2012
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• 3 Cheshvan 5773
• |
• 894 views

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