My grandfather, or Pop Pop as we knew him, had a very interesting name. Max August Lindauer.
​
In the twenty-one years I've been a mohel here in Los Angeles, I haven't had one baby with the name August.

Until yesterday.

The second baby yesterday was named Augustus. When the parents sent me the information about his name I couldn't help but think of my Pop Pop. I wasn't fortunate enough to have know him long enough to have real memories. He passed away when I was 4.

The grandfather of baby Augustus is a Doctor. I enjoy when doctors are at a bris. They always like engaging me in medical conversations regarding circumcision. Yesterday was no exception. We were discussing how most circumcisions done in hospitals are done by either residents or interns. In passing he mentioned he had done his residency at University of Pennsylvania.

I asked him when he was at Penn. He said that he was there from about 1962 until 1969.

I then asked if he knew Dr Max Lindauer.

His eyes opened wide and said "Of course I remember him, you couldn't be at Penn without knowing Dr. Lindauer, he had quite a following there".

Unbelievable, first time I ever have a baby with a name even remotely close to August and it his grandson and he knew my Pop Pop, Dr Max August Lindauer.

Another incredible encounter in the wonderful life of a mohel.

​Yesterday's bris the baby was named Noah. I assumed that it was because he was born last week and the weekly Torah portion was Noah. When the parents spoke at the ceremony it was made known that was not the reason at all.

The mother said that ever since she was young she loved the name Noah and would name a child one day Noah. Perhaps this was because her Bas Mitzvah portion was Noah.

She ended up marrying someone who shared that very same portion for his Bar Mitzvah!

​Both parents of this baby had the Bar/Bas Mitzvah Portion of Noah. He "just happened" to also be born during the week of Parshas Noah!

Most amazing occurrence just happened with me and a grandfather at a bris. (no photo, family very private)

This was a very intimate ceremony with only the parents and grandparents in attendance. The father of the baby told me that he was going to be the sandak because his father was nervous to hold his grandson. I thought it would be nice to have the grandfather place the baby on the Chair of Elijah or on the Sandak's lap. However, the grandfather refused. He said that in his 80 years he has NEVER held a baby until they were over 6 months.
 
I was in shock. "What about your own children?" I asked.

He said no. When the first was born and the nurse went to hand him the baby he was so nervous that he froze and never tried again.

I went ahead with the ceremony and just had the baby's mother place the baby on her husband's lap.

As soon as I finished I picked the baby up and told the father he could stand up. I then told the grandfather to have a seat in the Sandak's chair. Without asking him, I firmly but warmly said to him "here is your grandson".
The grandfather had no choice but to embrace his grandson. The baby lay peacefully in his loving cradle. 

The look of sheer bliss was clearly visible on the grandfather's face. He was enjoying himself so much that he commented that he might not give the baby up.

After the ceremony was over the grandfather hugged me and said thank you so much. He even managed to boast and claim that the baby was so quiet due to his holding expertise!
​
Mazal Tov Mom, Dad, baby Yonatan Eli and Grandpa T....