Ilene Francosays... The documentary is very well-done, as viewed by my husband and me. We live in Richland where my husband, a surgeon, learned the prayers and acted as mohel, years ago. Some families brought in mohelim from Seattle, so we understood and could relate to this film. In the past few years other people have become available. I have suggested our synagogue should order your film. I read the description in the Transcript.
Critics Reviews
"Moti Krauthamer's Moyl examines the practice of the bris through a portrait of David Bolnick, a moyl (or ritual circumciser) who travels widely to perform the ceremony in strict accordance with Jewish tradition. Bolnick is an engaging fellow, a software worker who performs the bris as an avocation, offers his services without charge, and courteously puts up with hearing the same jokes over and over again. In addition to following Bolnick on his rounds, so to speak, Moyl explains the place of the bris - an ancient ceremony of welcome through which a boy is made a part of a larger community - in Jewish culture, and allows parents the opportunity to express their feelings regarding the importance of the practice (viewers will also see the care with which the ritual is performed: a segment on how Bolnick handles the situation when some physical abnormality is detected - a circumstance that a family might understandably find quite distressing - provides a perfect example). A modest production that serves up an interesting overview of the subject, Moyl is recommended. Aud: C, P."
-F. Swietek, Video Librarian, September-October 2005
"Moyl does a wonderful job of presenting the way an ancient Jewish ceremony continues in modern times. I particularly like the way the film elicits the feelings and emotions of the various participants in the ritual. I would love to show this documentary to my introductory college students, and I'm sure it would do well in many classroom settings from middle school to college."
-Martin S. Jaffee, Professor, Comparative Religion and Jewish Studies, University of Washington
SummaryFor Jews, the act of circumcision is more than a medical procedure; it represents a continuation of an ancient tradition of welcoming a baby into the community. During the ceremony, the baby’s name is announced, often followed by an oral history of the baby's namesake. It is a moving experience for parents, family and friends.
In Moyl, Emmy Award-winning television producer/director Moti Krauthamer follows David Bolnick, a ritual circumciser, as he travels from family to family, helping parents prepare their sons for entry into the Jewish community. Bolnick’s travels take him to places near and far, even Alaska, where he answers the unexpected call for a moyl.
The film also delves into the more modern aspects of ritual circumcision (“bris”), as it addresses corrective surgeries and fathers who choose not to delegate their religious responsibility by performing the 'cut' themselves. The film even highlights humor about this practice that has become part of the culture.
