1. Early Training Steeped in Ancient Traditions (Fragment)

Circumcision

The rite of circumcision is still very strictly observed among Orthodox Jews. On the eighth day after a male child is born, he has to undergo the rite or ritual of circumcision, according to Genesis 17:9‑13. This was the Covenant God made with Abraham, and no Jew can ever become a child of Abraham and a member of this Covenant without being circumcised. At that procedure the officiating rabbi or his assistant, the “Mohel,” the man who performs the actual circumcision — pronounces the name of the child, saying, “The name of this child shall be called in Israel (the name given by the parents).” And so it was in the case of little Isaac Levi. The entire ceremony was strictly observed in the presence of a praying congregation, in accordance with the rabbinical traditions.

Believing in the prophet Elijah as the guardian of the Holy Law, it is generally assumed in strict rabbinical circles that he is present at this sacred ceremony, and a special seat is reserved for him which is called “The bench of Elijah” (“Kysseh Shel Elijahu”).

This seat is usually temporarily occupied by the rabbi, whose honor it is to hold the child during the procedure. In the absence of such a rabbi another person may be honored to take his place.

During the performance of the sacred ritual, a prayer is chanted as follows, “Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, Who has sanctified us by giving us the command regarding circumcision.” After the ceremony, the father of the child praises God for affording him the privilege of bringing his infant into the Covenant of Father Abraham. The congregation responds with a prayer for the child that “he might grow up and enter into the Law and the nuptial canopy (which means marriage) and good deeds.” At this unction, another prayer is offered, namely, regarding the coming of the King‑Messiah, that God might send the Anointed walking in His integrity to give good tidings and consolation to the people that are scattered and dispersed among the nations. “All‑Merciful, send us the righteous High Priest, WHO REMAINS WITHDRAWN in concealment in Heaven, hidden until His throne, bright as the sun, and radiant as a diamond, shall be prepared for Him.” At this solemn ceremony, father Eleazar and mother Gali dedicated their first‑born son to God, with the prayer that he might become “Godel B’Israel” (“a great man among his people”).

Having been born into a priestly family, little Isaac Levi was by divine order exempt from the “Pidyon ha‑ben” or the “Redemption of the firstborn.” The children of priests are in a special way separated or sanctified unto God, while all other firstborn children of Israel had to be redeemed by the payment of a price of five silver shekels, according to Numbers 5:11‑15 and 45‑50. There we read that God ordered that the firstborn children belong to Him because the firstborn children had been spared in Egypt under the protection of the blood of the Passover lambs.

The redemption of the children had to be carried out by an acknowledged priest in the Congregation of Israel. This procedure was (and still is today), likewise, a solemn service. At the age of one month, the child had to be presented by his father to the priest. The father and the mother would testify that the child is their first‑born. God’s ordinance of redemption was then recited from the Scriptures, and the father would be asked if he is willing to pay the redemption price for the child as commanded by the Lord. The father would say solemnly “Yes, I am willing to fulfill the behest of the Holy One; blessed be His name. I desire to pay the redemption price after the money of the Sanctuary” (the equivalent). Then the priest would answer “I take this money instead of thy son. This is the commutation for him. This is the price of his release. May this child enter into life, into the Law of the fear of God.”