Not all mitzvot are followed by a festive meal, but this is the custom when celebrating a circumcision (brit milah). In fact, the Shibolei HaLeket considers the meal at a brit obligatory. However, at this festive meal (seudat mitzva), we do not recite the blessing of SheHaSimcha BiMe’ono (joy is in His dwelling) as we do at a sheva berachot. Since the baby is in pain, it would be insensitive to say these words. This leads to the question: why at a brit do we have a festive meal at all?
Several reasons are suggested. One is that of Tosafot (Shabbat 130a), citing Bereishit 21:8. There we read that Avraham made a party “on the day that Yitzchak was weaned” (beyom higamel et Yitzchak). Though the verse does not seem to be referring to circumcision, some creative wordplay can help make the connection. The first letter of the word higamel is the letter hey, whose numerical value is 5. Add to that the numerical value of the second letter, gimmel, and we have an additional 3. The last two letters of higamel form the word mal, “circumcise.” Thus the word higamel can be interpreted to mean “on the eighth (5+3) day, circumcise (mal).” Following this exegesis, the verse means that Avraham made a party on the day of Yitzchak’s circumcision.
Rashi points to another source to show that milah is a joyful occasion. We read in Tehillim 119:162, “I rejoice over Your instruction like one who finds abundant spoils.” What specific instruction is being rejoiced over? The very first “instruction” given to our forefather Avraham, i.e., milah.
The Abudraham quotes a different verse from Tehillim (50:5): “Gather My devout ones unto Me, sealers of My covenant (kortei briti) through sacrifice (alei zavach).” The word briti clearly hints at brit milah, while the word zevach can be understood homiletically as “flowing (zav) on the eighth,” another hint at milah. (The final letter of zevach is the letter chet, which has a numerical value of 8.)
Some say that a person who is invited to a brit and does not attend is rejected by heaven. Therefore, common practice is simply to inform family and friends of when and where a brit will take place, and not to issue personal invitations.
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