Since Matthew was to be a C-section delivery, it was decided that he would stay at the hospital until his bris. Kathy would also remain to begin her recovery.
The bris and the luncheon were planned for day eight, as was customary, but on day five, the pediatrician told me Matthew’s blood numbers were not quite up to par for a bris, and we would have to postpone it for a few more days. OYE VEY!
He didn’t seem to understand that my folks had gone and invited a lot of people and engaged a catering service for a luncheon after the ceremony. Let me see now: oh yes, they invited our family, our friends, some of the physicians I worked with at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital, some of Kathy’s work associates, and a lot of my parents’ friends.
I suggested the doctor call my folks and explain the medical situation to them. I sure didn’t want to do it. He called me later and said that my mother was beside herself! I anticipated that. She was not sure she could reach all those people and move the luncheon to a different date.
The doctor said they could try and “put him under the lights.” There was a chance that exposing him to some special lighting could increase the chances his blood scores would improve enough to do his bris. I sighed and wished us all good luck.
That night I visited the hospital after work and brought Kathy to the nursery where we found Matthew in a special bed with the special lighting casting an eerie color. He was wearing miniature goggles to protect his eyes, his naked tush in the air, looking around as if he was in charge of all this. We were sure he was thinking, “Look out world, here I come.” We laughed.
On day seven, the doctor called and said that his scores improved so much that he would agree to the bris on day eight, the usual and customary day for a circumcision.
I remember that day so well. The auditorium at the hospital was jammed with people when I arrived at noon and picked Kathy up from her room in her hospital gown, robe and slippers. The mood was one of slightly anxious anticipation as my dad welcomed all the people and told them how happy and blessed they felt as Grandma and Grandpa to be there for this joyous Jewish celebration. Rabbi Issac Lerer talked about the historical and cultural values in a bris, and I shared our joy and love for all that was unfolding that moment.
A nurse brought Matthew to the front of the auditorium and the mohel quickly and efficiently performed this ancient ritual which bound Matthew to the past of our Judaism, his present, and to the future of our people. It seemed to be over in a moment or two.
I chose not to watch and remember how tightly Kathy held my hand. When it was over, she kissed me on the cheek, and we silently thanked God for the mitzvah of life and of our family. Of course, Haran was there, and folks made sure to keep him in the spotlight. Lunch was served as the nurse took Matthew back to the nursery for observation. For a half hour or so, the room was almost silent as everyone celebrated by eating and schmoozing with each other.
Fifty years have gone by. Oh, how fast it has gone, but Kathy and I remember that day, that hour, and that mitzvah so well. We will always remember that new baby of ours, wearing miniature goggles with his tush in the air as he gazed around. “Look out world, here I come.”
Musings
Yes indeed, what an experience. Remembering the mohel, the Rabbi, Matthew, Haran, Kathy, my folks, the doctors, friends — all there for a Jewish rite that binds us to our past, our present, and our future as Jews. And the doctor who was willing to tell my mother… I wonder if he realized the precarious position he put himself in, in doing so.
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These essays — are works of creative nonfiction and memoir from Alan S. Wolkenstein, obm. He was a clinical professor of family medicine with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, a father, a grandfather, and a native West-Sider. We are grateful to Alan for all the colorful stories he has brought to our pages before — often on his life in Jewish Milwaukee — and to his son Evan, for allowing us to publish these works. For a note from Evan, click here.