What An Honor! The History and Evolution of the Sandek and Kvatter

How and when did the bris take the shape we recognize today? When did the sandek and kvatter enter the ceremony, and what do those words even mean? Today’s class traces the development of the bris in Ashkenaz between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries. We’ll explore the origins and context of its specialized terms, the deals people made to secure coveted honors, a controversial practice that the Maharam of Rothenburg protested for years without success, and the role women played in the ceremony. Along the way, we’ll examine a panel painted around 1300 that brings at least one version of the medieval bris into sharper focus. Click here for the handout What An Honor! The History and Evolution of the Sandek and Kvatter