The Jewish people have remained steadfast in the Mitzvah of circumcision even when most other observances have fallen by the wayside. Significantly, Bris Milah is one of those commandments that, even among non-Jews, is a well-known Jewish practice. Just as the Hebrew name implies, the mitzvah has two facets- "mila" being the physical circumcision while "bris" refers to the eternal covenant each Jewish boy is ushered into with God. Since this principle is the essence of the mitzvah, a bris mila can only be performed by a God- fearing and competent mohel who has in mind that he is entering the child into the covenant and performing a mitzvah. It is not sufficient to have the circumcision performed by a doctor in the hospital. In addition, the Torah commands that the bris mila be performed on the eighth day after birth. Though it can be postponed for health reasons - it can't be performed earlier. The requirement that the procedure be done as a mitzvah and not just as a medical procedure is such that if a circumcision was performed without a mohel than a procedure known as "hatafas dam bris" where a drop of blood is taken by a mohel at the place of circumcision is needed to fulfill the mitzvah of Bris Mila. This procedure is incumbent on any Jewish male who did not have a proper Bris Mila as an infant.