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Who do you think was the first one to have a circumcision on the 8th day after his birth? The answer is found in this week’s Parasha, Vaera. We read that Abraham circumcised his son on the 8th day. What is the secret of the number 8? What is the significance of this number?
Our Sages explain that one of the reasons is that we want the child to have lived at least one Shabbat before his circumcision. On Shabbat, our soul (and our body) are on a higher level, and this prepares the child for the Brit Mila.
Another explanation is that the number 8 represents the power that is beyond nature. The number 7 represents nature, which was created in 6 days plus one day of Shabbat. Additionally, our everyday life is counted in weeks, that is, periods of 7 days.
The number 8, which is 7 +1, is beyond nature. This is exactly the significance of the Brit Mila. To connect to G-d with a bond that is beyond nature and will stay forever, no matter what happens.
Shabbat Shalom,
Arie from the Yeshiva
Interesting fact: The major blood clotting agents, prothrombin and vitamin K, of a baby reach their peak level on the 8th day after birth.
