The father of the child made off with his son shortly before the scheduled bris took place in the home of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita on Tuesday, the first day of Chol Hamoed Sukkos 5777. Rav Chaim, who was scheduled to be the sandek, was not informed the father was taking his son before the bris as he did.

Also present was the mohel, Rav Nachum Diamante of Yeshivas Netivos Olam, who tried to persuade the father not to make off with the child but his efforts were in vain as the father explained he did not want the bris performed on his son. Rav Diamante explained that he too was shocked, adding in all his years as a mohel he never had a similar experience. They quickly moved to the next bris as Rav Kanievsky was scheduled to serve as sandek for three children on Tuesday.

Kikar Shabbos News adds that after additional attempts at persuasion, the father, who was with his son in an apartment on Rashbam Street, agreed to permit the mohel to move ahead with the bris. Among those who worked on persuading the father to permit the bris were Rav Chaim’s son-in-law HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Kodolsky, Rav Chaim’s grandson HaGaon HaRav Tzivyon.

It is explained the child’s mother called to arrange the bris but the father got ‘cold feet’ the last moment for reasons that are not explained, prompting him to make off with the child.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)