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We know that Iyov, Adam, Shes, Noach, Shem, Yaakov, Yosef, Moshe, Shmuel, Dovid, Kalev ben Dovid, & Yirmiyahu were all born circumcised (which is a very rare occurrence). My nephew was also just born circumcised, does this signify that he has a particularly lofty & holy neshama? Also do we know of more recent Tzaddikim who were born circumcised?

Avos D'R Nosson, Ch.2:

אלא מלמד כשיצא איוב ממעי אמו יצא מהול. ולא איוב בלבד יצא מהול אלא אף אדה"ר נברא מהול שנ' ויברא אלהים את האדם בצלמו. אף שת נולד מהול שנ' ויולד בדמותו כצלמו. ואף נח יצא מהול שנ' נח איש צדיק תמים. ואף שם יצא מהול שנ' ומלכי צדק מלך שלם. ואף יעקב יצא מהול שנ' ויעקב איש תם. ואף יוסף יצא מהול שנ' ואלה תולדות יעקב יוסף והלא אינו ראוי לומר אלא תולדות יעקב ראובן. אלא שכשם שיעקב יצא מהול כך יוסף יצא מהול. אף משה יצא מהול שנ' ותרא אותו כי טוב הוא. אלא מה ראת אמו של משה שהוא נאה ומשובח מכל בני אדם אלא מלמד שראת אמו יצא כשהוא מהול. אף בלעם יצא מהול שנ' נאם שומע אמרי אל. אף שמואל יצא מהול שנ' והנער שמואל הולך וגדול. אף דוד יצא מהול שנ' מכתם לדוד. אף כלאב בן דוד יצא מהול שנ' חכם בני ושמח לבי ואשיבה חורפי דבר. אף ירמיה יצא מהול שנ' בטרם אצרך וגו'. אף זרובבל יצא מהול שנ' ביום ההוא נאם יוי צבאות אקחך זרובבל וגו' כל המהולים ט"ו

A slightly different list is quoted in Midrash Tehillim (Mizmor 9):

ה אחד מי"ג שנולדו מהולים, ואלו הן. אדם הראשון שת חנוך נח שם תרח יעקב יוסף משה שמואל דוד ישעיה ירמיה

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  • Are you sure he was born fully circumcised ?
    – sam
    May 28, 2019 at 19:27
  • 3
    Who is we that knows this? How do they know it?
    – Double AA
    May 28, 2019 at 20:01
  • Belated welcome to this site. You may want to link a source to support your first sentence. Avot Derav Natan, among other areas, mentions this in one of the earlier chapters.
    – DanF
    May 28, 2019 at 20:03
  • Avos D'R Nassan Ch 2
    – chortkov2
    May 28, 2019 at 20:21

4 Answers 4

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The Minchas Elozor (Munkatcher Rebbe, also a famous mohel) quotes a number of sources who posit that although we find people who are born somewhat circumcised, nobody today is born completely circumcised. He does, however, bring conflicting reports. [See link for further definition; see also Avnei Nezer YD 334.7]

R' Yisroel Belsky reported having officiated over a case of someone born completely circumcised.

Regarding one who actually is born completely circumcised - the Shl"a (Shvuos, Torah Or) writes:

דהוא שלימות כח הגוף בלי התבטל כוחותיו ויחלשו. וכן מצינו דוגמא לזה באברהם, קודם שנימול כתיב (שם יז, יז) 'ויפול אברהם על פניו', אבל אחר שנימול לא. ומשה רבינו ע"ה שנולד מהול, לא נתבטל לגמרי ממנו שום כח והרגש.

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  • Can you add a translation of the Shl”a’s quote, for those who can’t read Hebrew?
    – DonielF
    May 28, 2019 at 23:24
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In Sefer Hamidos it states:

ה. מִי שֶׁנּוֹלַד מָהוּל, בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁכּחַ הַמְדַמֶּה שֶׁלּוֹ טוֹב וְיָפֶה.

  1. One who is born circumcised, it is certain that his power of imagination is good and proper.

Sorry, I do not know of any recent Tzaddikim who were born circumcised.

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  • 2
    It's not exactly a question people ask each other. "Hey, were you born circumcised?"
    – ezra
    May 29, 2019 at 2:39
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I once asked this question of a very famous mohel. He said the people you listed were born mohul. However, no one nowadays is born that way. There may be just a little skin, but everyone has something and needs a bris.

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  • Welcome, TIDE. Thank you for your contribution! When possible, it's helpful to add sources, or at least details. What was the name of the Mohel you asked?
    – chortkov2
    May 28, 2019 at 20:29
  • Welcome to MiYodeya TIDE and thanks for this first answer. Can I recommend you take the tour to get a sense of how the site works? Since MY is different from other sites you might be used to, see here for a guide which might help understand the site. Great to have you learn with us!
    – mbloch
    May 29, 2019 at 7:33
  • I believe even people born fully circumcised like Dovid Hamelech still had to have a bris
    – Lages
    May 30, 2019 at 17:13
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It appears that the reason why no one is born circumcised anymore, is because they remove much more skin than they used to. Anyone think this has something to do with it?

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  • 1
    What would your source for this be? Jul 28, 2019 at 1:53
  • Priah or the uncovering of the glans in its entirety was a man made addition to the commandment to discourage jewish men from restoring their foreskins.
    – Math011235
    Aug 8, 2019 at 2:09
  • According to the Talmud (Yevamos 71b) the Jews were later COMMANDED to do Priah. Tosfos (ad loc. s.v. Lo Nitnah) posits that this obligation always existed; its source being Halacha Le'Moshe Me'Sinai. Jun 27, 2021 at 17:53

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