Announcing the Next Session of Our Training Program for the Certification of Reform Mohalim is Scheduled to Begin February 2019

The next session of our exciting yearly course will be offered starting February 2019 to train men and women interested in becoming a mohel or mohelet. This is a tremendous opportunity to help young families and communities welcome a newborn into the covenant of Judaism.

This weekly class is held online, using live video conferencing. The course is taught by distinguished faculty consisting of rabbis and mohalim, and leads to certification by the Brit Milah Board of Reform Judaism. The next course will meet on successive Thursdays for 12 weekly 2-hour sessions, 5 pm PT/8 pm ET, day to be determined. Tuition is $1,800.

Request an application today! Contact Helene Seifer - hseifer@huc.edu.



Qualifications

Jewish medical professionals who have a desire to serve as a mohel/et are encouraged to apply to the program. Courses are held online via video-conferencing for 12-14 weeks, usually on successive Thursday evenings. They will be held at a time when interested participants from a variety of time zones might easily join the course. In general, the course is offered every year.

Eligibility of all applicants is verified prior to signing up for a course, so we encourage applications to be submitted as soon as possible upon deciding to apply to the program. Eligible applicants include:

Medical Professionals who are proficient in and actively performing circumcisions and have current and active insurance. Those who receive certification through our program are also eligible to purchase circumcision medical insurance through our affiliated insurance company.

To request an application to the program, contact:

Helene Seifer

Program Associate

Brit Milah Program of Reform Judaism

213-765-2179 or 1-800-899-0925 x4279

hseifer@huc.edu

or

Rabbi Julie Pelc Adler

Director

Brit Milah Program of Reform Judaism

beritmila@huc.edu

Submitting the Application

When submitting the completed Application form, be sure to include the following required supporting elements:

A 2 to 3 page essay explaining why you want to become a Reform mohel or mohelet

A letter of recommendation for acceptance to the program from your rabbi. Prior to requesting this letter, you should meet with your rabbi to discuss your application to the program. Your rabbi should, in effect, be your sponsor – a person who can serve as your guide and mentor throughout your training and service as a mohel/et.

A photocopy of your specific medical license.

A short description of your medical qualifications to perform the newborn circumcision procedure. Include a description of your training in the procedure and your experience in performing it.

A letter of recommendation for acceptance to the program from the head of a hospital department in which circumcisions are performed – such as Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Urology, or Family Practice – attesting to your proficiency in the performance of the procedure, newborn circumcision;

A letter from your synagogue stating that you are a member in good standing.

Steps Toward Applying to the Training Program

Below is the step-by-step process to become a Reform Mohel/et.

Once a complete application has been received by the Brit Milah Program, your application will be reviewed by the Brit Milah Board of Reform Judaism to verify eligibility. Once eligibility has been verified and the application has been approved, course announcements will be sent for all scheduled courses. Once all registration forms have been received by the Brit Milah Program, you will need to attend a course. After a course is completed, guidelines for writing a Final Reflection are sent to each participant. Each participant is allowed one year from the end date of the course to submit the Final Reflection. Once the Final Reflection is received by the Brit Milah Board of Reform Judaism the entire file is reviewed with the Final Reflection and a certification decision is submitted. This review process will take place within 3-6 months after receiving the Final Reflection Once accepted as a certified mohel/et, you will be invited to join NOAM, supported by a yearly dues fee, which qualifies members to be listed in our on-line Directory where families interested in Brit Milah services can find your contact information. NOAM members are also eligible to join our Google ListServ, a forum where certified mohelim/ot regularly discuss issues and news that interests and elucidates our community. NOAM holds a national conference every few years for its members, in addition to one-day regional conferences that are set up around the country.

Upcoming Courses

If you are interested in applying to take part in an upcoming course, please review the application requirements and process, then request an application by emailing Rabbi Julie Pelc Adler at beritmila@huc.edu or Helene Seifer at hseifer@huc.edu or 213-765-2179 or 1-800-899-0925 x4279.