How Do You Spell B-R-I-S? (And M-O-Y-E-L?), Plus Some Humor

In short: There is no single right way to spell bris or mohel in English characters. Brit (breet) is the Hebrew word for covenant, bris is its Yiddish/Ashkenazic pronunciation, and brit milah means "the covenant of circumcision." Likewise, m-o-h-e-l is the most common spelling of the circumciser's title, while "moyel" is how most Americans pronounce it.

There are so many ways to refer to this most sacred and meaningful commandment, and further to spell it. Milah, bris, briss, brit, brit milah, bris mila... and which is correct?

How do you spell bris — bris, brit, or brit milah?

There is no right or wrong way to spell a word in English characters that is not an English word. Brit (breet) literally means covenant, not the slang for a citizen of England. Bris is a Yiddish or Ashkenazic pronunciation of the same Hebrew word.

Brit Milah means literally the covenant of circumcision and is the more full reference to this rite. When one says bris milah, it is once again the Yiddish or Ashkenazic pronunciation of the same Hebrew words.

Is it mohel, moyel, moyl, moyle, or moil?

Like bris, there is truly no correct or incorrect way to spell mohel, but m-o-h-e-l is by far the most common. On the other hand, moyel or moyal is the most common way that people in the U.S. pronounce this word. So it can depend on one's background.

The Hebrew term for circumcision is מילה (Milah), pronounced "mee-lah." One who performs Milah is called a מוהל (Mohel), pronounced properly in Hebrew as "moe-hell." In Yiddish, Hebrew words with syllables that have the long "o" sound change to the Jewish sound of "oy." For Yiddish speakers, a "mohel" becomes "moy-ill" and the soft "h" is dropped in the process. Since most (certainly not all) American Jews stem from European ancestry, and there Yiddish was the first language, the term "moyel" became popular and stuck.

Rabbi Glantz uses the term m-o-y-e-l most often, which is the Yiddish pronunciation, because most of the time that is how people pronounce it. And when you email him, he will promptly e-moyel you a response!

Which TV shows have featured a bris?

Comics have an easy mark when they poke fun of intimate things. We're already squirming a bit, so laughter is a relief from the discomfort, even when the joke isn't that good. That said, there are great jokes, TV episodes, and stories that involve our ancient ritual. Rabbi Glantz definitely has some favorites which he might share with you.

Ok, if you really need something punny, a definition of circumvent (n.): the opening in boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

Glantzbris.com is compiling a list of every TV reference and updating it with each new one:

• M*A*S*H, "The General Flipped at Dawn" — Episode 49, Season 3, first aired Tuesday, September 10, 1974.
• Saturday Night Live: The Royal Deluxe II (1977) — A bris in the back of a luxury car. The mohel says: "What a ride, a perfect cut, every time!" Gilda Radner, z"l, played the mom.
• Cheers, "For Real Men Only" — Episode 176, Season 8, first aired Thursday, November 16, 1989.
• thirtysomething, "Prelude to a Bris" — Episode 63, Season 4, first aired Saturday, September 22, 1990.
• Seinfeld, "The Bris" — Episode 69, Season 5, first aired Thursday, October 14, 1993.
• The Nanny, "The Unkindest Cut" — Episode 11, Season 3, first broadcast November 17, 1993.
• Early Edition, "A Bris is Just a Bris" — Episode 33, Season 2, first aired Saturday, December 20, 1997.
• South Park, "Ike's Wee Wee" — Episode 4, Season 2, first aired Wednesday, May 27, 1998.
• Weeds, "A Distinctive Horn" — Season 5, Episode 8, first aired July 27, 2009.
• Red Oaks, "The Bris" — Season 2, Episode 4, first aired November 11, 2016.
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel — Season 3, Episode 7, first aired December 6, 2019.

Of course, plenty of movies have included the ritual, too, most recently the silly Ricky Stanicky with Zac Efron and John Cena. Feel free to e-mail additions to phillybris@gmail.com.

Stills from some of the episodes above:

Common Questions

Is "bris" or "brit milah" the correct term?

Both are correct. Brit milah is the fuller Hebrew reference, meaning "the covenant of circumcision," and bris is the Yiddish or Ashkenazic pronunciation of the same Hebrew word.

Why do Americans say "moyel" instead of "mohel"?

In Yiddish, Hebrew syllables with a long "o" sound shift to "oy," and the soft "h" is dropped, so "moe-hell" became "moy-ill." Since most American Jews stem from European ancestry where Yiddish was the first language, "moyel" became popular and stuck.