Location, location
While it’s more traditional to have a bris at home, that may be out of the question when you and your partner, your newborn, your frisky labradoodle and the baby nurse are all packed into a 750-square-foot apartment. Rather than seating Grandpa Abe next to the breast pump, you may want to look into other options.
Barring a church, most mohels will perform a bris just about anywhere. Dr. Dorothy Greenbaum, a pediatrician and Reform mohelet, suggests checking the location with your mohel before you book it, making sure the spot has good lighting and an adjustable thermostat so you can be sure the room will be warm enough for your little guy. To avoid surprises, find out if other events will be held on the same day; you don’t want a round of “For he’s a jolly good fellow” to break out right as your tot’s being snipped.
Of course, not all locations are conducive to hosting a delicate medical procedure and a catered party, but this is New York and you do have options. If you belong to a temple, ask about its event rooms; some temples and other sites that don’t require membership are listed below. In addition to those choices, consider restaurants, hotels and private clubs.
Angel Orensanz Center
172 Norfolk St between E Houston and Stanton Sts (212-529-7194, orensanz.org)
The Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU
7 E 10th St between Fifth Ave and University Pl (212-998-4123, nyu.edu/bronfman/new)
Brotherhood Synagogue
28 Gramercy Park South at Irving Pl (212-674-5750, brotherhoodsynagogue.org)
Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-294-8307, cjh.org)
The Chelsea Space
121 W 19th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-924-3200)
Congregation Rodeph Sholom
7 W 83rd St at Central Park West (212-362-8800, rodephsholom.org)
Harold Pratt House & Peterson Hall
58 E 68th St between Madison and Park Aves (212-434-9576, prattmansion.com)
The JCC in Manhattan
334 Amsterdam Ave between 75th and 76th Sts (646-505-4444, jccmanhattan.org)
The Jewish Center
131 W 86th St at Columbus Ave (212-724-2700, jewishcenter.org)
The Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Ave at 92nd St (212-423-3239, jewishmuseum.org)
The 92nd Street Y
1395 Lexington Ave at 92nd St (212-415-5766, 92y.org)
Park Avenue Synagogue
50 E 87th St at Madison Ave (212-369-2600, pasyn.org)
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
30 W 68th St between Central Park West and Columbus Ave (212-877-4050, swfs.org)
Village Temple
33 E 12th St at University Pl (212-674-2340, villagetemple.org)
Grand Prospect Hall
263 Prospect Ave between Fifth and Sixth Aves, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-788-0777, grandprospect.com)
Jewish Children’s Museum
792 Eastern Pkwy at Kingston Ave, Crown Heights, Brooklyn (718-467-0600, jcmonline.org)
The Montauk Club
25 Eighth Avenue at Lincoln Pl, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-638-0800, montaukclub.com)
Park Slope Jewish Center
1320 Eighth Ave at 14th St, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-768-1453)
Prospect Park Picnic House
Prospect Park West at 3rd St, Brooklyn (718-287-6215, prospectpark.org)
Union Temple of Brooklyn
17 Eastern Pkwy between Plaza St East and Underhill Ave, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (718-638-7600, uniontemple.org)
Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center
1766 Arthur Kill Rd between Arden and Muldoon Aves, Staten Island (718-948-6782, ahbjewishcenter.org)
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Charles
Mon, Jan 07, at 09:05pm
You are factually incorrect in your article. You write that "Among very observant Jews, it’s preferable to delay the bris by a day or two rather than cause others to violate the laws of the Sabbath by driving or cooking. " This is absolutely false. Observant Jews either stay at the family's/friends house the night before a Shabbos bris, or they walk there, or they miss it altogether. Bris is NEVER delayed a day or two for convenience.
leo
Sun, Jan 06, at 03:45pm
I have been a subscriber for a while and found it highly offensive to be referred to as a "jittery goy", I'm sure a jew would find it offensive to be called a nervous kike. The mag is TONY, not Time Out Israel. C'mon, prejudice is so over, unity is in, TONY Kids is so behind the times. but that wouldn't ever be printed. A a catholic i have panned 4 baptisms, yetThe comment you type in this box will appear on the site