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The Stages of Brit Mila (2) The Peria

 
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In loving memory of Rabbi Dr. Barrett (Chaim Dov) Broyde zt”l
הוֹלֵךְ תָּמִים וּפֹעֵל צֶדֶק וְדֹבֵר אֱמֶת בִּלְבָבוֹ
Steven Weiner & Lisa Wise
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Introduction
 
The Mishna (Shabbat 133a) presents the stages of ritual circumcision: mila, peria and metzitza. It teaches that all three stages, as well as placing the bandage on the wound, are permitted on Shabbat. The two central actions associated with ritual circumcision are mila, the removal of the foreskin (or ha-mila); and peria, uncovering the glans by pulling back and even removing the thin membrane (or ha-peria) below the foreskin. 
 
Last week we discussed the mila, i.e., the removal of the prepuce (foreskin). The glans penis is covered by a retractable, double-layered fold, known as the foreskin or the prepuce. The outer layer is smooth muscular tissue; the inner layer is a mucous membrane. After cutting the outer layer, the mohel then tears and strips back the remaining inner mucosal lining of the foreskin; this is known as the peria.
 
The Gemara (ibid. 137b) teaches that the mohel must remove the “flesh that covers most of the atara” (rov ha-atara). We noted that the Rishonim disagree as to the definition of the “atara,” if it refers to the galns penis or the corona (the protruding ring at the base of the glans), and how much flesh must be removed. In practice, preferably, the mohel should remove all flesh covering the corona and the glans penis. However, if there is no flesh covering the majority of the circumference of the corona, or reaching the top portion of the glans, the brit mila is valid.
 
This week we will discuss the act of peria, its halakhic significance, and how it is performed by different mohalim.
 
Source
 
The Talmud Yerushalmi (Shabbat 19:2, Yevamot 8:1) derives peria from the language God uses in commanding the mitzva of brit mila to Avraham Avinu, "himol yimol" (Bereishit 17:13). The Yerushalmi explains that the two terms refer to two acts of circumcision, mila and peria. Similarly, the Midrash (Bamidbar Rabba 11:3) explains that Moshe Rabbeinu would perform the mila, while Yehoshua would do the peria.
 
The Talmud Bavli (Yevamot 71b), however, derives the mitzva of peria from the commandment given to Yehoshua to circumcise the Jewish people upon entering the land of Israel.
 
Rabba bar Yitzchak said that Rav said: The mitzva of uncovering the glans during circumcision was not given to Avraham Avinu.
 
The command given to Avraham included only the mitzva of circumcision itself, i.e., the removal of the foreskin, but not the uncovering of the glans, i.e., the folding back of the thin membrane that lies under the foreskin.
 
As it is stated: “At that time the Lord said to Yehoshua: ‘Make yourself knives of flint [and circumcise again the children of Israel a second time]’” (Yehoshua 5:2). Perhaps the verse is referring to those who had not been circumcised at all, as it is written: “For all the people who came out were circumcised; but all the people who were born [in the wilderness…had not been circumcised]” (Yehoshua 5:5)? But if so, what is the meaning of “circumcise again” [which indicates that they had to be circumcised a second time]? Rather, it is referring to uncovering the glans.
 
According to this passage, the obligation of peria is only given later, at the time of Yehoshua, and therefore those males who were born and circumcised in the wilderness have to undergo the procedure of peria as they enter the land. Tosafot (ibid. s.v. Lo) understand that this source must be an asmakhta (biblical allusion), and that the obligation of peria must have been given to Moshe Rabbeinu, as a halakha le-Moshe mi-Sinai, as a prophet is not allowed to institute a new halakha.
 
Nature of the Mitzva
 
The Acharonim discuss the nature of the peria and its relationship to the mila.
 
Some suggest that, in essence, the revealing of the glans, the peria, is the mitzva. The mila, the removal of the or ha-mila is really only a sort of preparatory stage, enabling the uncovering of the glans, the peria. Indeed, the Talmud (Shabbat 137b) teaches, “Mal ve-lo para ke-ilu lo mal,” namely that whoever does the mila without the peria is as if he has not even performed the mila. Alternatively, we might suggest that the mila and the peria are simply two parts of the removal of the orla.
 
Some relate this question to a debate regarding whether on Shabbat, the mila and peria may be divided between two mohalim. The Shulchan Arukh (YD 266:14) rules:
 
Care should be taken on Shabbat that two mohalim not be involved in the same circumcision, the one performing the mila and the other the peria, but rather the one who performs the mila should himself perform the peria.
 
The Rema disagrees and permits two mohalim to divide the mila and peria on Shabbat.
 
The Acharonim (see Bei’ur Ha-Gra ad loc. and Sha’agat Aryeh, OC 29) offer different explanations of the debate. The Maharshal (Yam shel Shlomo, Yevamot 8:3) relates that the Mahari Bruna (42) agrees with the Shulchan Arukh, while he supports the view of the Rema. We might suggest that while the Shulchan Arukh believes that the mila itself is merely a sort of hekhsher mitzva, an act which creates the circumstances to fulfill a commandment, and therefore the person performing the peria may not violate the Shabbat, the Rema maintains that they are both considered to be part of the mitzva, and therefore, both the one who does the mila and the one who does the peria are considered to be engaged in a mitzva which overrides the observance of Shabbat.
 
These positions appear to be articulated by the Rishonim regarding another issue. The Talmud teaches that although it is generally prohibited to remove tzara’at from one’s body, if tzara’at is found on a child’s foreskin, the child may be circumcised, as the positive commandment (mitzvat aseh) of brit mila overrides the negative commandment (mitzvat lo ta’aseh) of cutting off tzara’at; this principle is known as “aseh docheh lo ta’aseh.” The Nimukei Yosef (Bava Metzia 16a-b) cites the Ran, who maintains that although the mila itself is not considered to be a mitzva, since the mohel is “involved” in the performance of a mitzva, concluding with the peria, the prohibition of removing the tzara’at is set aside. R. Yehosef, however, describes the mila as “guf ha-mitzva” (the body of the commandment) and as “chatzi ha-mitzva” (half of the commandment); therefore, it overrides the prohibition.
 
Some Acharonim suggest that despite the principle mentioned above, “Mal ve-lo para ke-ilu lo mal,” after the removal of the or ha-mila, a person is no longer considered to be an arel and may be permitted to eat korbanot; or if one’s son’s or slaves have undergone mila but not peria, he may be permitted to eat the Pesach offering. See, for example Kovetz He’arot, Yevamot 64.
 
These different understanding of peria may impact upon the question, mentioned above, regarding whether the peria is part of the original commandment given to Avraham Avinu, or a separate, later addition. If the peria is simply the removal of more flesh, then it doesn’t seem that a later commandment is necessary to reveal this aspect of the mitzva. If, however, the peria qualitatively redefines the mitzva, then it makes sense that this new mitzva is given later, and not to Avraham Avinu.
 
The Separation of the Or Ha-Peria from the Glans
 
Many mohalim prefer to loosen or even separate the or ha-peria from the glans before the mila. They insert a probe, a long, straight, smooth instrument with a blunt tip, through the front of the foreskin, and move it around the outer edge of the glans, in order to separate the membrane from the glans.
 
For those mohalim who perform the mila and peria in one step, separating the or ha-peria from the glans is necessary. Even for those do the mila and peria in two steps, some find that after separating the membrane from the glans the peria can be performed more quickly; this also makes it easier to grasp the remaining membrane, with the tzitzin, and peel them below the glans.
 
Although the widespread use of the probe is relatively recent, and as R. Moshe Feinstein writes in a 1954 responsum (Iggerot Moshe, YD 1:155) , most mohalim use a probe before performing the mila, there are numerous indications of this, and similar practices, in halakhic literature.
 
For example, we find in Machzor Vitri (505), authored by a student of Rashi, Rabbeinu Simcha (13th century):
 
During the eight days [preceding] the circumcision, the child is washed and his foreskin is rubbed, as it is softened by rubbing it, making it easier (noach) to perform the peria.
 
Similarly, R. Yosef Molcho (Saloniki, 1692-1768), in his commentary to Shulchan Arukh, Shulchan Gavoah (YD 264: 27), writes:
 
It is the custom of our forefathers, in the city of Saloniki, that the expert mohalim perform the circumcision without the need to do peria, not by hand or with an instrument. If the hole in the prepuce is wide enough, they pull down the foreskin from the glans, and the crown protrudes through the hole, as if it were circumcised, and then the foreskin returns to its place on the glans, as it was. And then [the mohel] cuts it, and immediately the glans emerges, already uncovered.
 
It appears that the entire foreskin, including the inner membrane, was pulled below the glans, in order to loosen it, and to enable the mohel to cut the foreskin and the or ha-peria at once, as we will discuss below. Similarly, R. Ya’akov Emden (1697-1776), in his Migdal Oz (Nachal 5), describes a “thick and long silver pin” used to probe the area under the foreskin and separate the membrane from the glans.
 
Some authorities have opposed the use of a probe, either because, in their view, it challenges the “traditional” manner of performing brit mila, even if it is done in two steps (see below); or because it causes discomfort to the child before the circumcision, which is usually grounds for delaying a brit mila (R. Elyashiv, cited in Brit Eliyahu, pg. 73). However, it does not appear that this view has been widely accepted (R. Shelomo Zalman Auerbach, cited in Nishmat Avraham, YD 264:2; Iggerot Moshe, YD 1:155).
 
Some Acharonim question whether probing is permitted on Shabbat. Since probing is not actually part of the brit mila itself, but rather a preparatory act, it would not be permitted to cause bleeding, which is prohibited on Shabbat, outside of the mitzva itself. The Minchat Yitzchak (8:90:1), for example, opposes using a probe on Shabbat. Most Poskim, including R. Moshe Feinstein (ibid.), R. Shelomo Zalman Auerbach (Nishmat Avraham, YD 264:2) and R. Ovadya Yosef (Yechaveh Da’at 6:53), et al. disagree and permit using a probe on Shabbat, as it does not inevitably cause bleeding (pesik reisheih). This appears to depend upon the speed and skill of the mohel. Some even suggest that if the probing is done immediately before the mila and peria, it is considered to be part of the mitzva and is permitted on Shabbat.
 
Mila and Peria — One or Two Steps
 
As described previously, the glans is covered by a retractable, double-layered fold, known as the foreskin or the prepuce. The outer layer is smooth muscle tissue; the inner layer is a mucous membrane. The mohel cuts the outer layer with a blade; this act is known as mila. There are different customs regarding the removal of the inner layer, known as peria. These different customs are often described as the one-step method or the two-step method.
 
The two-step method is described by the Rambam (Hilkhot Mila 2:2). He writes that the peria is performed after the mila; and with the fingernails, not with a blade.
 
How is the circumcision performed? The foreskin that covers the crown of the penis is cut off until the entire crown is revealed. [This step is referred to as mila.] Afterwards, the soft membrane that is beneath the skin should be split along the midline with one's nails and peeled back to either side until the flesh of the crown is revealed. [This step is referred to as peria.]
 
This description appears in the Shulchan Arukh (YD 264:3) as well. Interestingly, based upon the verse (Tehillim 35:10) states: “All my limbs shall say, O Lord, who is like You,” the Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, Tehillim 35, 723) relates that King David said to God, “I praise you will all my limbs, and perform mitzvot with each of them.” Regarding the fingernails, he says, “They are used for peria or melikat ha-of (beheading a bird offering), and together I look at them towards the Havdala light.”
 
The one-step method is first described by Rav Hai Gaon (Teshuvot Ha-Geonim, Sha’arei Tzedek 3:5:6). He describes how the outer and inner foreskin are removed together.
 
And you should know that this has been the practice in Bavel for many years. The mohel pulls back the foreskin and detaches the inner membrane with his hand… And it is held with the foreskin, and cut together…
 
It is improper to cut twice; rather, the mila and peria should be performed together at once. When they are both done, he has fulfilled the mitzva.
 
R. Moshe Feinstein (Iggerot Moshe, YD 1:155) claims that this practice is also described by the Yerushalmi (Shabbat 19:6). In addition, as mentioned above, R. Yosef Molcho records that this was the practice of the “expert mohalim” in Saloniki. R. Yishmael Cohen (Italy, 18th century), in his Zera Emet (3:132) also records this practice.
 
Despite the early references to this method, the two-step process has been the method most commonly practiced until recent times. In modern mila procedures, the mohel will use a hemostat to grasp both the outer foreskin and the inner membrane, then pull them both through the shield and cut them together.
 
There are numerous, significant differences between these two methods. R. Moshe Pirutinsky, in his Sefer Ha-brit (page 206), describes the benefits of the one-step method. He explains that the one-step method is a quicker procedure, which causes less bleeding and heals quicker. In addition, when the one-step method is employed, the entire inner membrane is cut and removed, and it is not pulled back and left to grow together with the remaining part of the foreskin. This lessens the fear that the inner membrane may not remain below the glans and may return and cover the glans, which at times may necessitate a second procedure. 
 
Some Acharonim (see Minchat Yitzchak 9:100) object to this one-step method, as in their eyes, it constitutes a change from the traditional manner in which circumcisions have been performed. Similarly, R. Wosner (Shevet Ha-Levi 4:133; see also R. Shelomo Zalman Auerbach, cited in Nishmat Avraham, YD 264:4, who views this as a case of doubt) notes that the view of Rav Hai Gaon (above) is not cited by the Shulchan Arukh or other early authorities. R. Ya’akov Ettlinger (Binyan Tziyon 88) invokes the midrash cited above as a defense for the two-step method.
 
On the other hand, R. Moshe Feinstein (Iggerot Moshe YD 1:155, 4:40) writes that since the goal of performing the mila and the peria is to uncover the glans, it does not matter which method is employed. Although he insists that there is no halakhic difference between the methods, he recommends, in order to fulfill the words of the midrash, to leave behind a bit of membrane which can be pulled back with the fingernail.
 
 
Mila and Peria in Jewish Thought
 
Beyond the physical characteristics of the orla and the or ha-peria, and beyond the analysis of the proper method to remove them and to reveal the glans, the mila and peria have intrigued Jewish thinkers for hundreds of years.  For example, R. Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (1820-1892), in his commentary to the Torah, Beit Ha-Levi (Parashat Lekh Lekha), explains:
 
The Rishonim discuss [whether of the mitzva of mila] is to be viewed as the removal of the negative qualities of the orla, which is a blemish on a Jewish person removed through the act of mila; or whether [the brit mila] adds a dimension of kedusha (sanctity) to the Jewish person. In truth, [brit mila] has both of these characteristic together…
 
It appears that these two aspects are [expressed through] the mila and the peria. The mila is the removals of the orla, and with this act he removes himself from the non-Jews who are referred to as arelim; and by cutting [the foreskin] he separates himself from them. Then comes the peria, which is a sign of the brit kodesh (holy covenant) to connect to and be sanctified by the sanctity of the Jewish people, to be one nation.
 
This idea is expressed by the Tzemach Tzedek (Shabbat 19) as well, who describes mila and peria as “two levels” (shtei madreigot): a) removal of that which is bad, and b) revealing and bringing the glans closer to sanctity. We will encounter similar ideas when we discuss the role of mila and tevila (immersion) for a convert or hagala (submersion in boiling water) and tevila for vessels acquired from non-Jews.
 
Next week we will discuss the use of shields and clamps during the circumcision.

, full_html, The second stage of circumcision is peria, uncovering the glans. What does this entail, and is it possible to fulfill it at the same time as the initial mila? What philosophical significance does the act hold?

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