A reception follows the ceremony.
During this meal, it is good that bread is served[1].
At the end of this meal as in other circumstances, people who have consumed bread will recite the Birkat hamazon [2].
The source of this meal that follows the Brit-milah is also found in the following verse : וַיִּגְדַּ֥ל הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל וַיַּ֤עַשׂ אַבְרָהָם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֔וֹל בְּי֖וֹם הִגָּמֵ֥ל אֶת־יִצְחָֽק׃ ” and The child grew, he was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day when Yitzhak was weaned” (Berechit/Genesis 21, 8). It is taught that by breaking down the word הִגָּמלל, we get the letters he and guimel (5 +5=8) followed by the letters mem and lamed which form the word מל meaning “circumcised”. Because of this, the interpretation of the verse becomes: “on the eighth day when Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, he made a great feast” [3].
During the blessing of concluding the meal after the circumcision, we will not forget to include the specific blessings of this day: these are blessings for the child and his parents, but also for the Mohel, for the sandak. Also added are good wishes for the coming of the Messiah.
Honorees during the Seuda
– A person pronounces a dracha during the meal – It can be a rabbi, the mohel, the father, etc. The fact of speaking Torah during this reception raises the spiritual level, already great, of this moment.
– A man is assigned to recite the birkat hamazone or the me’ein chaloch – This is thanksgiving after the meal: birkat hamazone if this meal includes bread; me’ein chaloch after mezonot (pastries for example), wine or certain fruits (including dates, olives).
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Footnotes
[1] According to the custom of Algiers, one always begins with a cup of wine on which the blessing is pronounced by a Cohen (Simon Darmon, 1995, p. 420).
[2] Harokeah 117 and R’‘Haye Adam, cit. by R. S. Darmon (1995), The Book of our Customs according to Ribach, Rachbats, Rachbach and R. Yehuda Ayache, 2nd Ed., p. 324.
[3] The seudah of Yitro could be a meal offered following his conversion and therefore his milah.
(c) R’ Eliyahu Bakish