Dear Dr. Kogen,

Please forgive us for the lateness of this well-deserved thank you letter. As you may recall, you performed a Brit Mila for our son, Jeffrey, on November 4, 1997.

Steven and I want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for the amazing Bris you performed in front of our family and friends. As you know, my family is Italian and Steven's family is Jewish. You elegantly explained to both families the importance of the ritual circumcision and its religious significance in a baby boy's Jewish life.

We received many compliments on the wonderful job you did. Everyone commented that it was the best Bris that they had ever attended. Many people were so moved by the beauty and the sincerity of the service that it brought tears to their eyes.

Your attention to detail was meticulous. We especially liked your suggestion of placing pictures of Jeffrey's Grandfather, Ronald, and his Great Grandmother, Rebecca, on the ceremonial table, as well as the fragrant and colorful rose petals sprinkled across the white tablecloth. We feel that added a touching element to the service.

Your kindness, compassion and understanding towards Steven and I during an emotionally filled day will always be remembered. And finally, we greatly appreciated your follow-up calls to us to see how Jeffrey was doing; those calls brought us peace of mind.

Jeffrey was a miracle baby and took four years to descend from heaven into our arms and we thank you for the loving care you took with our son during his Bris. We have recommended you to many of our friends and look forward to seeing you again at future Bris '.

Most sincerely,

Carol & Steven Ricklin

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