by Rabbi Nachum Scheiner
As a practicing mohel, Parshas Lech Lecha – where the mitzvah of milah is given to Avraham Avinu – is of course very “close to my heart.” In future articles, I hope to go into some of the halachic details of the mitzvah. But, I would like to begin with some of the many great things accomplished with this wonderful mitzvah.
The Tur, in his introduction to hilchos milah quotes the Gemara in Nedarim 31b, that tells us the importance of the mitzvah of milah, calling it the greatest mitzvah of all. What is unique about the mitzvah of bris milah that earns it the title of being considered the greatest mitzvah?
The Shem M’shmuel quotes his father, the Avnei Nezer, who explains this concept with an analogy to a person’s body. Every person is made up of many different limbs and organs. Every one of our limbs is a beautiful gift from Hashem, which we enjoy, but some are more crucial to our existence than others. For example, a person can live a long and healthy life, even if he is missing a finger or even a whole hand. However, there are certain organs – e.g., the brain, heart, and lungs – which are crucial for our very existence and without them one cannot live.
Similarly, the 248 mitzvos correspond to the 248 limbs of a person’s body. Indeed, every mitzvah is significant and no mitzvah should be underestimated; however, there are certain mitzvos that are our spiritual lifeline and are crucial for our very existence. These mitzvos are considered equivalent of all the other mitzvos, because without their fulfillment one would not be able to exist.
The mitzvah of milah is one such example, and the Tur goes on to delineate many of the dimensions and powers that are tapped into by fulfilling this essential mitzvah, thereby making this mitzvah so extraordinary.
Some of the great powers of the Bris milah
Bris milah is one of the only positive commands that failure to perform is punishable with kareis. As the Mishna (Nedarim 31b) tells us, the expression “bris” is used 13 times in reference to milah, meaning that 13 bonds with Hashem are created by performing this great mitzvah.
Furthermore, the Tur points to the Mishna (Avos 3:15) that one who nullifies bris milah will not receive a portion in the next world. Conversely, he quotes the Gemara that Avraham Avinu guards over the entranceway to Gehinom and does not allow one who is circumcised to enter. So, without a bris no other accomplishments will be meaningful, and with a bris one is saved from punishment in the next world.
Additionally, the Tur continues, the bris milah is not just an externality, like talis and tefillin, which are worn on the body. The bris milah is embedded in our bodies, testifying to our unique and inbuilt status as the Chosen Nation. Thus, this mitzvah is indeed very powerful and a part and parcel of our very lifeline.
Summary
The mitzvah of milah is equivalent to all the mitzvos, and one of the only positive commands punishable with kareis. 13 bonds with Hashem are created by performing this great mitzvah. Without a bris milah a person will not receive a portion in the next world and with a bris, he is saved from punishment in the next world. Bris milah is embedded in our bodies, testifying to our unique and inbuilt status as the Chosen Nation.
