Circumcision Makes History in Odessa, Ukraine

In the thriving Jewish community of Odessa, Ukraine, ritual circumcisions happen about one a week; weddings occur one a month. But the bris of young Alexander Gorvitz two weeks ago nevertheless made history for being the first time that more than 80 years that a Ukraine mayor hosted a public celebration on occasion of his son’s circumcision.

Edward Gorvitz, the father, is currently in his second term as mayor of the Black Sea port. He and his wife, Olga, have one other son, 21-year-old Shmuel.

According to Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Avraham Wolff, who organized the ceremony with the Brit Yosef Yitzchak organization that sends mohels all over the world, the circumcision was made all the more special by the fact that the Gorvitzes had been praying for another child for so long.

Olga Gorvitz, 48, "prays every day," said Wolff, who, together with his wife, frequently travels to Israel with the couple. "They're both very warm Jews.

"They have been waiting many years to have another child," added Wolff, chief rabbi of Odessa and Southern Ukraine. "When they found it would be a boy, it was clear to them that he would have his bris."

A host of community members turned out for the occasion, which was catered by a local kosher restaurant.