A sandek or sandak (Hebrew: סנדק "companion of child") is a person honored at a Jewish brit milah (circumcision) ceremony, traditionally either by holding the baby boy on the knees or thighs while the mohel performs the brit milah, or by handing the baby to the mohel.[1]
In Modern Hebrew, sandak is also the word for godfather;[2] the film The Godfather is known in Hebrew as HaSandak.[3] The role is distinct from that of the kvater who carries the baby in Ashkenazi ceremonies, based on the Yiddish word for godfather.