izmel

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Hebrew אִזְמֵל (izmél, “lancet, scalpel”).

Noun

A box of ritual objects a Mohel would use. A very old example of an izmel appears on the lower-left. Today’s implements are much more precise. This is from a Göttingen Museum.

izmel

1. A specialized surgical knife used by the mohel in the Jewish circumcision ritual of Brit Milah for infant males. It must have certain characteristics, per Jewish Law, including that it may not stop the flow of blood (unlike the constricting devices commonly used by a surgeon or Urologist).

See also

• Brit milah
• Brit-dam
• circumcision