About the Mohel.
Yona’s expertise as a mohel is apparent to anyone who watches him do a bris. Parents and loved ones most often comment on his relaxed demeanor, his empathy and care for the baby and parents, and the careful and quick performance of the procedure itself. The method Mohel Yona uses is significant- one that minimizes the time the circumcision takes, significantly reduces pain for the baby, and emphasizes not just technical but also aesthetic considerations for every circumcision. Just as important as the procedure itself is the expression of thoughtful empathy for both baby and parents, especially the Yoledet (mother who has just given birth.) Mother and baby are treated as unique and precious.
Yona was born and raised in Jerusalem to American parents. He began his professional career at a young age as a certified Sofer (scribe). Sought after for his exceptional handwriting, he wrote two Torahs while practicing as a scribe, and was regularly consulted by advanced scribes regarding his writing methods. Growing up as a child of two vastly different cultures has given him a unique ability to connect with all types of people. His open-mindedness combined with the skill set that he mastered as a young scribe, including a steadiness of hand, focus, and a careful, gentle touch are skills that today directly inform his success as a mohel.
He received his 3 year professional training under expert mohel Rabbi Moshe Rappaport, a renowned Mohel who does circumcisions for clients all over the United States and the world. Rabbi Rappaport himself trained under the famous mohel of Jerusalem, R’ Yossele Weisberg (who, serendipitously, was Yona’s own mohel as an 8 day old baby!)
Yona currently lives in Bala Cynwyd, PA - right outside of Philadelphia - with his wife and children, four boys that he feels so fortunate to have been able to circumcise himself.