Questions men ask
Is it too late for me?
No. If you never had a bris as a baby — whatever the reason, whatever your age — it is not too late. Here is what that looks like, honestly.
You are not the only one.
Men call me at every age. Some were born in the Soviet Union, where a bris was forbidden. Some grew up far from any Jewish community, or their parents simply did not know it was important. Some came to observance later in life. Some are completing a conversion.
Many have carried the question quietly for twenty, forty, sixty years, unsure who they could even ask. If that is you, you are in very good company — and you are not too late.
What changes with age — and what doesn’t
What changes is the care around it. For an adult, the bris is done under local anesthesia, with pain management planned in advance. Before anything is scheduled, your medical history is reviewed by a medical professional, so we know it is safe for you specifically. Recovery is planned around your work and your life.
What doesn’t change is the bris itself. It is carried out fully and correctly, followed by the blessing, just as for a baby on the eighth day. If you do not have a Hebrew name, this is a natural time to receive one.
Men in their seventies and eighties have had a bris. Age on its own is not the obstacle most people imagine; the medical review is there to make sure it is right for you.
The hardest part is the first call
Almost every man tells me afterwards that the waiting and wondering were harder than the bris itself. The first step is simply a conversation — by phone or on WhatsApp, at whatever length you need. You ask your questions, I answer them honestly, and nothing is arranged until you are ready.
Everything stays private. If you prefer that nobody else knows, nobody else needs to know. If you would rather celebrate with family and friends, we can do that too.
And cost should never be the reason. Nobody is turned away over money; when needed, a sponsor covers it.
What about my sons?
Sometimes a man realizes that his sons were not circumcised either — whether they are boys or grown men. That is a conversation I have often, and it is never too late for them either. For boys and teenagers, everything is planned around their age; you can read more on older boys and teenagers. For grown sons, this page and the adult bris page are a good place for them to start.
Short answers
Is there an age limit for an adult bris?
No fixed age limit. Men in their seventies and eighties have had a bris. Your medical history is reviewed by a medical professional before anything is scheduled, to make sure it is safe for you.
Does it hurt?
It is done under local anesthesia, so the area is numb during the procedure. Pain management for the following days is planned in advance.
Will anyone have to know?
No. Our conversations are confidential, and if you prefer to keep it private, nobody else needs to know.
What if I can't afford it?
Nobody is turned away over money. Call me and we will talk it through privately; when needed, a sponsor covers the cost.
One private conversation.
It costs nothing, commits you to nothing, and stays between us.