mohel

noun

plural mohels also mohalim ˌmō-hä-ˈlēm How to pronounce mohel (audio) or mohelim ˌmō-(h)e-ˈlēm How to pronounce mohel (audio)
: a person who performs ritual Jewish circumcisions

Examples of mohel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web He was inspired to study brit milah by his grandfather Isadore Jacobs, who was a mohel and also a rabbi, a cantor, a dayan (a religious judge) and a shochet (a ritual slaughterer). Sam Roberts, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023 The families gather for a baby’s circumcision, and a Gentile banker is mistaken for the mohel. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2022 In the summer of 2021, The mohel and Lisa even moved into a new apartment with their three kids, all under 12. Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2022 The baby is finally, successfully circumcised at the hospital after the mohel selected by Elaine accidentally cuts Jerry’s finger. Ryan Parker, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2022 While Loren watched the circumcision with tears running down her face, Alexei helps the mohel — a religious circumciser, who leads the event — complete the procedure. Kelly Wynne, PEOPLE.com, 25 Feb. 2022 More recently, Rabbi Tendler backed New York City health officials in trying to ban a circumcision procedure in which the mohel — a Jew trained in the rite — sucks blood from an infant’s wound with the lips. New York Times, 9 Oct. 2021 He was certified as a mohel by the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Rabbinical Assembly at the first Brit Kodesh conclave in 1990. Sergio Carmona, sun-sentinel.com, 17 Sep. 2021 For centuries, the role of mohel was dominated by male religious leaders. Alyson Krueger, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mohel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew mōhēl

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mohel was in 1613

Dictionary Entries Near mohel

Cite this Entry

“Mohel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mohel. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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