Mohel-Book


In a Mohel-book, the “circumciser” (the Mohel) records all circumcisions (Brit Milah) performed by him. Since 1798, all Jewish citizens of Niederzissen were recorded by the registry office. Before that date, Jews had to pay a fee to register their births, marriages, and deaths in Christian parish records. Mohel-books are valuable historical sources, as they are more thorough than the sometimes-incomplete parish records, listing additional information such as place of origin and further dates.

Titel: Mohel-Book
Date: 1795-1809
Material: Ink on Paper, handwritten
Dimensions: 15 x 9.5 cm (6’’ x 3.7’’)
Creator: Mohel of the Niederzissen congregation
Sponsor: Congregation of Niederzissen

The four handwritten double pages of this Mohel-book contain 34 readable entries, made between 1795 and 1809. On these pages, the Mohel recorded the date of the circumcision, the name of the father, the godfather (Sandek) and the child. The pages are embedded in a contemporary prayer book in octavo format.

Further Reading:
Deusel, Antje Yael. Mein Bund, den ihr bewahren sollt. Religionsgesetzliche und medizinische Aspekte der Beschneidung. Herder, Freiburg/Basel/Wien 2012.