Testimonials
Dr. Rawdin was featured in The Jewish Exponent- October 2020
The good news: The ritual known as the brit milah, or bris, has not changed because of the pandemic. The aim is the same, and so are the blessings that are recited.
Read the Article
Dr. Rawdin was featured in JNS- Jewish News Syndicate- July 2020
There is a tradition among the Jewish people that on the eighth day of life, a baby boy is carried to his brit milah (bris being the Yiddish word)
Dr. Rawdin was featured in The Jewish Exponent- March 2013.
Ancient and modern, ceremonial and medical, commandment and simcha: a bris is all of those things and involves just as many emotions for the baby boy’s family. Who are the mohelim to whom these rituals are entrusted? Why did they choose to become mohalim? How did they learn to perform circumcisions?
David's dedication and compassion truly made our son's bris an unforgettable and joyous occasion. From the moment we met David, his warmth and genuine care immediately put us at ease. He understood our nerves and anxieties leading up to our son's bris, and he went above and beyond to provide us with the support we needed.
As a diligent pediatrician, David's expertise and availability were evident when we found ourselves rushing our son to the ER at Children's Hospital shortly after his birth. David was by our side, offering guidance and reassurance, proving himself to be an invaluable source of knowledge and comfort during a challenging time.
During the bris ceremony itself, David exhibited an incredible presence and heartfelt connection with everyone present, including those watching remotely through Zoom. His ability to explain the significance of each ritual with clarity and genuine care was truly remarkable. With tenderness and depth, David spoke about our son, making everyone in the room feel connected and engaged.
David gracefully handled the circumcision itself as well as all follow-up questions with expert knowledge, ensuring that we had a complete understanding of the process and were well-informed moving forward. It is a testament to David's exceptional skills and dedication that our entire family continues to speak about the profound impact he had on us during this momentous occasion.
David's role extended beyond that of a mohel; he became a mentor, a pediatrician, and a dear friend to us. His genuine kindness and unwavering support are qualities that set him apart. We cannot express enough gratitude for his exceptional services. David is a true mensch, embodying the values of kindness, expertise, and unwavering dedication. He is a brilliant and one-of-a-kind mohel, and we wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone seeking a meaningful and memorable bris experience.
Jaime, Andrew and Noah
Philadelphia, Pa.
We can’t say enough good things about Dr. Rawdin. He was extremely thorough from the beginning, explaining everything we would need to do and have prepared for the Bris. Dr. Rawdin was patient, kind, and available to answer any questions leading up to the actual day. During the Bris, Dr. Rawdin made sure we knew exactly what to expect and was extremely diligent about creating the most comfortable and painless experience for our son. Dr. Rawdin followed up with us after the Bris to make sure our son was healing well and encouraged us to reach out to him if we had any questions at all. Dr. Rawdin made what could have been a very stressful and hard day a seamless and positive one. We feel so grateful that he was our mohel. Highly highly recommend!
Faye, Joshua and Julian
Wynnewood, Pa
Hi Dr. Rawdin, thank you so much for today.
It was truly such a beautiful ceremony.
Everything was absolutely perfect and I couldn’t ask for anything more. Thank you for being so inclusive of my family.
I don’t even know why I was so nervous! It ended up perfectly. Thank you again!
Danielle, Matthew, Leo
Highland Park, NJ
I was so touched and impressed by your manner, expertise, spiritual guidance and comforting and informative way you conducted my first grandson Leo’s Brit Milah and welcomed him into the world of Judaism.. it’s very important to all of us! I hope to see you at future simchas!
Ilene, Bubbie of Leo
Highland Park, New Jersey
Thank you Dr. Rawdin! It was a lovely event which felt inclusive and welcoming for all in attendance including interfaith family members. We really appreciated the care taken to examine Avi before the ceremony and ensure his comfort along with the extensive after care instruction. As first time parents we felt good taking our son home and caring for him with clear direction. He healed quickly and many people commented on the beauty of the event. Thank you!
Tamar, Mark & Avi
Penn Valley, Pa.
Thank you so much Dr. David Rawdin, MD, Certified Mohel it was an absolutely beautiful ceremony! Thank you for helping make this special day so perfect for us and our families!
Rachel, Shawn & Jordan
Morganville, NJ
Dr. Rawdin helped to make our son’s bris a wonderful experience. He took the time to explain everything in advance and answer all of our questions. On the day of the bris, he made sure our son was comfortable and had a painless experience. Following the bris, he checked in with us multiple times to make sure our son was healing properly. A bris can be a very stressful and nerve wracking event for new parents, but our experience with Dr. Rawdin allowed us to relax and enjoy our son’s special day.
Brittney, Eric, Brie & Emmett
North Caldwell, NJ
Dr. David helped to make our son Dylan’s Bris a wonderful experience! He was so easy to work with and really put my mind at ease from the very first time we connected. I was excited to welcome my second son into the world, but dreaded the Bris, and Dr. David changed all of that. He was flexible and incredibly easy to communicate with. He was thorough but not overwhelming. He created the perfect balance between the circumcision and traditions! He created a beautiful ceremony and didn’t skip a detail. We received a beautiful certificate and kippah for my son. He knew exactly how to work with a busy family and made everything simple. He took the time to explain everything and make us comfortable. He was even there to field a few newborn questions as they came up in conversation! My family and I would highly recommend Dr. David to be part of all of your simchas and we are so grateful that we found him.
Dori, Justin & Dylan
Manalapan, NJ
So great to be back with Rachel and Kevin and big brother Nolan and honored to be able to welcome their second son Griffin at his Bris.
Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Thank you once again Dr. Rawdin! Our 3 little men have always been in such good hands with you!
Rina, Michael, Holden, Finn & Sully
Newtown, Pa
Having a baby always presents itself with some level of anxiety, even when it’s your second child. Add in a worldwide pandemic and the anxiety level heightens even more. When my husband Jeffrey and I considered our options for our second son’s bris, we decided the safest option was to have him circumcised in the hospital and celebrate later in hopes the pandemic would subside. Fast forward almost four months later and the pandemic was still very much present within our community. It was extremely important for my husband and I for our son Zachary to be officially entered into the Jewish community. We learned about the option of having a Hatafat dam Brit for our son and we were referred to Dr. David from my brother, who raved about him after he was the mohel for my nephew’s bris. When my husband and I reached out to Dr. David, he was understanding and compassionate about our decision to have our son circumcised in the hospital and was here to help us officially welcome him into the Jewish community by explaining in detail the meaning of a Hatafat dam Brit and what it entailed. Dr. David provided us with a wonderful experience from start to finish. He spent the time to get to know us via facetime, was in continuous contact with us in the weeks leading up to our son’s celebration of life/Hatafat dam Brit and was extremely personable, professional and cautious during such an uncertain time. Our loved ones attended via zoom and were also extremely impressed with Dr. David’s beautiful ceremony and how well he included our family members, so that they felt like they were there in person celebrating with us. We cannot say enough wonderful things about him for making this experience genuinely special for our entire family and most importantly our little boy, Zachary! Thank you again Dr. David, it was truly a pleasure!
Taryn, Jeffrey and Zachary
Ardmore, Pa
Hi David,
I wanted to thank you for officiating such a beautiful service today for our grandson JJ. We couldn’t have been happier or more proud to take part in this ceremony with so many of our favorite people tuning in. Despite the physical distance between us all, the love could be felt in our house and theirs.
When Lainie and John told us they had met the Mohel that felt right to help lead the service, we knew they would make a great choice, but our expectations were exceeded.
Thank you for your guidance and compassion in making today a day we will always remember and cherish.
Warm regards,
Sue and Jules (grandparents)
Scotch Plains, NJ
Dear Dr. David,
you so much for the beautiful bris. We really appreciated the care you took to evaluate our son and provide comfort measures before, during, and after the ceremony. Your extensive medical background was exactly what we were looking for, and it was nice to relax knowing that he was in such capable hands. We only wish that you could have performed our older son’s bris as well.
Many thanks,
Kate and Avi
Moorestown, NJ
Dr. Rawdin was highly recommended to us and did not disappoint. He is
professional, thorough, and personable. One major advantage of
working with Dr. Rawdin is that he is not only a Mohel, but a
pediatrician as well. Being such, he was able to locally anesthetize
the area before performing the procedure, ensuring that it was
pain-free. He was thorough with his care, visiting us both before and after the Bris to check up on our son and make sure everything went well. He is also
personable, and ran a beautiful ceremony.
Joel and Aviva and Jarron
Narberth, Pa
Thank you for everything! You were amazing, not just because of what a skilled Mohel/Doctor you are but because of the way you work with the whole family!
Jodi and Josh
Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
Thank you Dr. Rawdin!
Dr. Rawdin performed our son's bris in 2014 and our daughter's recent baby naming. We are incredibly grateful for him. As first time parents, we were incredibly anxious about our son's bris. Dr. Rawdin met with us beforehand and put our fears at ease. His incredible warmth, exceptional expertise and careful listening helped us to feel comfortable. It was important to us to have a physician perform the procedure. His ceremony was wonderful and was a very memorable event for all who attended. He also cared enough to follow up the week after to make sure that our son was healing properly. We of course called him again when we had our daughter and he led a beautiful baby naming ceremony for us. He also provided the best advice of anyone to us on things like diaper rash prevention and feeding. I only wish he could be our pediatrician! He will always have a very special place in our family.
Michelle & Philip
Swarthmore, Pa
In preparation for the birth of our first child, which we learned was going to be a boy, the first major decision my wife and I had to make was finding a Mohel to perform his Bris. Friends recommended the “old standbys” that have been around forever but we wanted someone more personal and caring. I was particularly interested in finding a Mohel that was also a medical doctor, if it was possible.
We came across the website of Dr. David Rawdin and from his description, testimonials and warm pictures; we had a good feeling from the start. This was reinforced by a pleasant and informative phone call and in person meeting at our home. David was genuinely interested in our family and our new addition. He asked many caring questions, some not even related to the Bris ceremony. We left that meeting knowing our son was in good hands. David was in contact throughout the final month of our pregnancy and after our son was born to make sure everything was okay. After we were released from the hospital, David came to visit us and to meet our son and make sure everything was ready for the big day. His background as a pediatrician specializing in newborn care (also) helped…... This was confirmed during our first pediatric visit.
David was excellent at explaining the process of the ceremony, both the medical and religious aspects. He helped guide us through the Hebrew naming and the task of assigning honors to relatives and loved ones. The service was beautiful and was more than we could have ever expected. Even with a large crowd, everyone felt involved and included in the ceremony. I received so many compliments on how beautiful the ceremony was and what a terrific job the Mohel did.
Beyond the ceremony, David bonded with our family and guided us through what could have been a confusing and challenging experience. He followed up after the circumcision, visiting our son to make sure he was healing and progressing normally. By this point, it was like having an old friend stop by and say hello.
I would happily recommend David to anyone looking for the services of a Mohel. He shows a level of care for the parents and the child that you would expect from a close friend or relative. His help is invaluable during a time of sleepless nights, confusion and adjustment and lets you focus your attention on your newborn, where it should be.
Rocky and Lisa
Merion Station, Pa.
Dr. David Rawdin is kind, professional and very thorough. His background in pediatrics is a huge plus. In addition to his medical credentials, he also conducts a beautiful service and offered follow-up home visits. We can’t speak highly enough of David. We’ve already recommended him to our family and friends.
Emily and Jeff
Narberth, Pa.
Thank you so much for the most wonderful bris ceremony that any family could ask for! Thank you for taking the time to help us select a Jewish name and prepare us for the ceremony as you did. You have such a wonderful way of making everything so special and we will never forget the beautiful day for our son Ashton Jacob! We have no doubt that we would have not been able to obtain such professional and compassionate care from another mohel. Those who had attended many said it was the most intimate and emotional Bris they had ever witnessed. Those who had never been to a Bris felt very much included and part of the ceremony. Thanks again David!
Michelle and Michael
Rumson, New Jersey
The urologist said that everything looked perfectly normal and, incidentally, he asked us who we used as a mohel and commented that Dr. Rawdin gets the urology stamp of approval!
Anonymous
My husband and I would like to thank you for performing Jaxon's bris ceremony. Our pediatrician said his circumcision was one of the best he has seen. We would recommend you to all of our family and friends! Thank you.
Etana and George
Sewell, New Jersey
Dear Dr. Rawdin:
Thank you does not adequately express our deep appreciation for the excellent care and attention that you gave to our son, David. As parents, the bris is not only a special time but it can also be anxiety-provoking because of the procedure itself. When we met beforehand, you set our minds completely at ease. We knew that our baby would be in capable, experienced and compassionate hands. This morning, you demonstrated not only your extraordinary competence but your thoughtfulness as well. You stayed well after the procedure to ensure that we understood the after-care and to answer a list of general newborn care questions that we had as well. We could not have been happier with the entire experience and you made it special for our family and carefree as well. We feel fortunate to have found you and will definitely be recommending you to friends in the area.
Many thanks,
Meredith and Dan
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dr. David,
You did an incredible job at the bris of our son Lucas. It was very important to my husband and I have to a mohel who was also a doctor. Your credentials certainly speak for themselves.
However, what really made you stand out was how comfortable and at ease you made us feel throughout the entire process. Not only was the procedure perfect, but the ceremony itself was absolutely beautiful. I can't tell you how many different family members came up to me after the bris raving about you. I'm so grateful that we found you -- and truly appreciate everything you did for us before the bris, the day of, and in the days after. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!!!
Rachel & Andre
Princeton Junction, NJ
Dr David,
We wanted to send you a heartfelt thank you once again for the amazing kindness you showed to our family during such a crazy time!
The story of what we went through and how you came through for us in the very last minute was amazing.
It was amazing the time, effort, and care you put into the Bris to make it so special for us. You put Jake at such ease, were so thorough and even spent time on the phone answering some first time mom questions I had about our new addition!!!
It is refreshing to know there are people like you out there with such passion and dedication and you pour your entire heart into what you do for the children and parents and I think it is so admirable. I have told many people our story and all about you. I look forward to continuing to keep in touch as you are a fantastic person and we cannot thank you enough for your kindness!
Best,
Kristin, Martin and Jake, Manahawkin, NJ
"Dr. Rawdin was referred to us by friends who couldn't say enough good things about David and they were all true! He expertly dealt with both cultural and interfaith concerns and built a rapport with us that eased our fears and was sensitive to everyone. On the day of the event, David managed to win over skeptical family members…with warmth, humor, skill and his impeccable credentials. In fact, he even came to the rescue after the ceremony when my nephew ate something he is allergic to and there was fear of severe allergic reaction. I think what most impressed us and our family was that David really took an interest in our family and our son's well-being. He stayed for lunch and was a very pleasant addition to our family's celebration. Since then he has checked in regularly to make sure that our son is recovering nicely and has even offered some other helpful newborn care advice. We truly feel lucky to have found Dr. Rawdin and would recommend him to any family!"
Judy and Jon, Hoboken, NJ
Dear Dr Rawdin,
We were so fortunate to have Dr. David Rawdin perform our son's Brit Milah. Since David is a doctor he was able to offer excellent pain control for our son, which allowed us to better focus on the meaning of the ceremony. David came to our home before the ceremony to get to know us better, explain the procedure, and to answer our questions, and he repeatedly called in the week after the Brit to check on our son's healing. Both the ceremony and the medical procedure were executed beautifully. We couldn't imagine a more comfortable, efficient, and caring experience then the one provided by David.
Best,
Iris & Daryl, Landsdowne
Dear Dr. David,
It was our pleasure to meet you and have you perform our son Jacob's Bris. You were a delight to work with. As new parents this time can be quite overwhelming and emotional. Your warm, professional presence was comforting. We appreciate the time you spent getting to know us and for the follow-up you provided. It's a courtesy that many others do not offer. Jake healed beautifully thanks to your work.
Thank you so very much for your services!
Sincerely,
Seth & Megan, Philadelphia
Dr. Rawdin made my grandson, Hudson’s, berit milah a beautiful and memorable event. He arrived before the ceremony, spent time with my daughter and son-in-law, and made all of the relatives and friends feel included in the ritual. The ceremony was meaningful and truly something we’ll always remember. After the ceremony, Dr. Rawdin spent time at the house, checking in on both Hudson and my daughter. He even mentioned that if she had any problems she was welcome to call him at any time, something she greatly appreciated. Dr. Rawdin even called my daughter, Bree, one week after the event to see how things were going. This personal touch was something that many people I know have not experienced and it was both unexpected and welcome. Because Hudson’s circumcision was done so well, he had minimal to no apparent discomfort, healed quickly, and his pediatrician remarked on how well it was done.
Thanks, Dr. Rawdin, for such a wonderful experience!!
Marcia Wexler, Yardley
David,
I wanted to express to you my sincere gratitude for the service you performed for our son, Ethan, on his Berit Milah. The service was very well put together and performed. The circumcision was very well done as well. Ethan is healing well. We heard numerous compliments on your service from both family members and the rabbi that was present. Thank you once again for the role you played in this special day for our family.
Best wishes,
Erick and Tania, Pennsylvania
David,
I wanted to add my thanks, in addition to those of my son Max and Sarah, for performing such a beautiful service on Tuesday for Julius' Bris. Your gentle and welcoming manner added greater meaning to the event. A number of our guests on Tuesday remarked to me how touched they were by your words and manner. In addition, I have been impressed by the special care and concern you have shown for Julius as well as for the new parents.
It was a pleasure meeting you and I wish you continued success.
Nancy, Pennsylvania
All is well on our end and it appears we have settled into parenthood. Lauren and I feel so lucky and blessed to have Eli come into our lives. We were thrilled you were able to share in such a special and meaningful time in our family’s lives. Attaching a picture that my sister took which we wanted you to have to remember this special moment.
Lauren and Jeffrey, New Jersey
The Bris of our son Julius was a wonderful event because of David's caring and thorough work. He took the time to meet with us and get to know our family. The service was personalized, and he made sure we were comfortable and informed with all the aspects of the procedure and ceremony. The fact that David is a pediatrician really sets him apart from other Mohels, and gave us great comfort. As parents, we were grateful to have his expert care and were thankful for his medical knowledge in managing all aspects of the Bris.
Max and Sarah, Pennsylvania
From our first conversation, I knew you would be the mohel for our son's Bris. We were so pleased with the amount of time you spent talking with us and getting to know our family. The ceremony around the Bris was lovely: personal and warm.
Vicki and David, Pennsylvania
