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I recall learning, but have no source for, the fact that part of what is achieved by the bris milah process is a form of etching (part of?) the name of God into the makom ha'milah.

  1. What is the source for the idea that the performance of a bris milah associates the name of God with the makom ha'milah?
  2. Which name of God is associated?
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    I've heard this too but I don't remember the source. I'll look for it tonight b'n.
    – yoel
    Commented Feb 26, 2013 at 22:12

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Apparently this is Professor Elliot Wolfson's niche. He has written copiously on this topic including:

among others. To quote from one of his many sources, the midrash tanchuma parshat tzav section 14

All of Israel who are circumcised [upon death] enter the Garden of Eden, for the Holy One, blessed be He, has placed His name in Israel so that they will enter the Garden of Eden. And what is the name and the seal which He placed in them? It is [the name] Shin-Dalet-Yod. He placed the shin in the nose, the dalet in the hand, and the yod on the [place of] circum- cision. Therefore when a Jew dies there is an appointed angel in the Garden of Eden, who receives every circumcised Jew and brings him into the Garden of Eden.

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  • See also Midrash Tanchuma (Parshat Shemini, section 8).
    – IsraelReader
    Commented Jun 28, 2021 at 12:44

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