A rare and historic Bris Milah took place Friday morning at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, marking the first such ceremony at the U.S. military installation in nearly three decades.

The Bris was arranged with the assistance of Yeshiva Pirchei Shoshanim, a Lakewood and Yerushalayim-based organization that serves as an endorser of chaplains to the United States military. Their endorsee, U.S. Army Chaplain Captain Rabbi Daniel Kamzan, was approached by a U.S. Army pilot whose wife was expecting a baby boy and requested help arranging a Bris under challenging circumstances.

Camp Humphreys is home to approximately 35,000 U.S. troops and is one of the largest American military bases in Asia. Rabbi Kamzan is currently the only Jewish chaplain responsible for serving the needs of Jewish personnel across multiple branches stationed in the region.

After approximately three and a half months of planning, the Bris was successfully coordinated despite significant logistical and regulatory challenges. Initial efforts to bring a mohel from Israel were unsuccessful due to military and government restrictions. Ultimately, a solution was found through Reserve Army Chaplain Rabbi Elisar Admon of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a certified mohel, who was able to travel to South Korea with military support.

The arrangements required coordination across multiple levels of military command, including securing approvals and transportation. Due to security considerations, many identifying details, including the family’s identity, were not released.

According to Rabbi Kamzan, the last Bris Milah held at Camp Humphreys took place nearly 30 years ago, highlighting the rarity of such an event for Jewish service members stationed in the region.

The successful completion of the Bris was described by those involved as a significant moment for Jewish continuity and religious life within the U.S. military, particularly in remote locations where access to religious resources is limited.