Q&A: Circumstances Enabling Circumcision on the Sabbath
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Circumstances Enabling Circumcision on the Sabbath
Question
Is the dispute between Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Akiva about an after-the-fact case (so that according to Rabbi Akiva, the circumcision is postponed if there is no knife), or about the ideal case from the outset (and according to Rabbi Eliezer one may in any case desecrate the Sabbath even if they intentionally did not make sure to have a knife prepared before the Sabbath)?
And what is the proof for that?
Answer
In the Mishnah itself it appears that Rabbi Akiva prohibits it only if it was possible to do it while it was still day, before the Sabbath.
Discussion on Answer
Yes. No.
If it were always possible to do so, the qualification in the Mishnah would be unnecessary.
If it was possible to do it and nevertheless they did not, then according to Rabbi Akiva is the circumcision postponed?
By the way, in this case of the things needed for circumcision, it is always possible to do them before the Sabbath, right?