Houston, we don't have a problem!

Here I am in Houston, for the second time this year. (By that I mean, here I am behind the camera at the bris that took place last week)

When the baby's father first contacted me, his number one concern was that the proper amount of foreskin be removed - not more than necessary. (Maybe he read this)

Anyway, I assured him that as the author of this and this, he had nothing to worry about. He happened to have me stay in his son's pediatrician's house for the evening (we are very informal within the Jewish community!), and she and I discussed her own concerns for boys that she sees especially immediately post-bris. And even though I told her about this conversation, she still found my insistence on the use of a marker, and concern for how things look (and that the proper amount of skin remains afterwards) to be very refreshing. The doctor also examined the baby a few hours after the bris and was VERY PLEASED saying "You're going to be the mohel in this town..."

Amen, may it be so.

Anyway, the lovely family hosted the bris in Houston's latest Kosher attraction - a very wonderful steakhouse.

Here's the Facebook post of this event
https://www.facebook.com/AviBilletMohel/posts/1297644666941451

Philadelphia and Southern NJ

Two weeks ago I flew into Philadelphia for a bris for the boy half of twins.
Here is the sky over Philadelphia (or somewhere on the East Coast)

Note those holes in the clouds!

After the bris, the parents were holding their babies for photos, so I snuck in for a selfie-taken-by-someone else.

Girls on the left, boys on the right, mohel in the middle

Of course, only the little boy was the star of the show. His sister just came to cheer him on.

North Orlando, FL

Driving to Orlando for a bris is not the "biggest" deal - for me it's less than a three hour drive. But I guess it qualifies for "travelingmohel."

I blogged about the very flattering story that brought me to this family on my main mohel website, so I'm just sharing the link and the photos I posted on Facebook here.

And on Facebook:



 

Durham, NC - Days Before Pesach

The call came on Tuesday, "Are you available next Tuesday to come to Durham?"

Wow! What brings you to Durham?

"Medical school."

All the information I got aligned - turns out I know the new mom's family from my days living in Queens.

One never knows what demeanor first time parents will have when facing their son's bris. But this special duo were incredibly chilled out, patient and lovely. As were their respective parents and the baby's great (or shall we say 'awesome') grandma who flew in for the bris as well.

Days like this are quite unique because my traveling is solely for the family. I was part of the family for the better part of the day, and felt part of their simcha in a manner above and beyond the normal and more typical experience.

Their "Shul" is an orthodox minyan housed in a Conservative Shul. I met the rabbi who was present at the Chapel Hill bris of three years ago - he is from Chapel Hill, not in this Durham community. Yet another reminder of the smaller side of the Jewish community here.

Some pictures.

This is Houston, We Have a Problem...

Heading to Houston, TX, for a bris this morning, because last week I got a call from a family looking for a specific style from the mohel they sought to hire.

Can't take full credit - I did get a referral. But while a simple search for mohel in Houston did net a few results, including one who was featured as one of :"America's Top Mohels" (JTA 2014, in one of the classic reasons why "top" anything lists are kinda silly) I can see that the variety of options is not like what people can find in Florida, where I live, or in New York.*

Of course, many people just call the local mohel when they need to have a bris. In some towns there is one mohel, and he is beloved by everyone, or he somehow works for everyone.

When that is not the case, I am happy to make the trip. After all, "Have knife... will travel!"

*I found out that this mohel had to leave town for very crazy reasons. Thank God he is OK, but his departure left a void in the Houston mohel scene.

See here for Houston round II

A New Year!

While I have not been on the road as much as I was in the past, mostly staying in Florida, there have been a few drives - including to Tampa and north of Orlando, as well as a trip to Gainesville, over the last few months.

I've also had inquiries from the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Alaska, sometimes for babies that have not yet been born, to babies that have been born. Air-travel costs are typically prohibitive, especially on short notice - as a bris usually is - which may contribute to some people looking for a doctor or (in the case of Alaska) getting someone to come from Seattle or somewhere in California.

But we are still here! And A-1 service is available for those who seek it from this traveling mohel!