Halachot and Customs
Can a Woman Serve as Sandak?
Question
Can a woman sit as sandek at a brit milah?
Is there a special segulah in being a sandek?
Who has the greater merit, the newborn or the sandek?
If it is permitted from a halachic standpoint, is there another reason?
Answer
Shalom u-vrachah
This is what the Rema wrote: A woman should not serve as sandek for a baby where a man is available, because it is considered immodest.
A brit is generally performed in public, with a rabbi present, and everyone watches the sandek and the mohel, and therefore it is immodest.
There is a great virtue in being sandek, and it is a very great mitzvah. It is a rectification for keeping the covenant, and a segulah for livelihood.
The sandek influences the newborn childs character traits, and therefore care should be taken that the sandek be G-d-fearing, and the sandek merits a very great mitzvah.
With blessing,
Benyamin Shmueli
