Brit Atifah: A Jewish Baby Naming at Home

Welcoming

(Family and friends gather in the tent and create a circle of welcome for the new family.)

Welcome song:

הִנֵּה מָה טוֹב וּמַה נָעִים שֶׁבֶת אַחִים גַּם יַחַד

Transliteration:
Heney Ma Tov U’manayim Shevet Akhim Gam Yakhad

English:
How wonderful and pleasant when brothers and sisters sit together in peace.

(Family enters circle)

Rabbi/ Leader welcomes and explains the ceremony and the concept of sanctification of space and time.

Blessing over the wine:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן

Transliteration:
Barukh Ata Adonay Eloheynu Melekh HaOlam Borey Pri Hagafen

English:
Blessed is the Source of All whose energy enables fruit to grow on the vine.

(The family drinks the wine.)

BritLit. Covenant. Judaism is defined by the covenant - the contract between the Jewish people and God. God promises to make us abundant and to give us the land of Israel; we promise to obey God's commandments. This covenant begins with Abraham and is reiterated throughout the Torah. A brit milah, literally a covenant of circumcision, is often simply called a brit or bris. Atifah – Covenant of Wrapping

Rabbi/ Leader explains covenant and the symbol of TallitA four-cornered garment to which ritual fringes (tzitzit/tzitzi'ot) are affixed. The knots in the fringes represent the name of God and remind us of God's commandments. The tallit is worn during prayer and can also be drawn about oneself or around the bride and groom to symbolize divine protection.:

Rabbi /Leaders says:
In passing on this legacy, we invoke the concept of Brit – covenant.  There are many covenants we affirm today – the covenant between God and all humanity symbolized by the rainbow of the natural world and first invoked by Noah after the flood.  This covenant reminds us that all of creation is a gift and a promise and that it ours to protect and keep.

The second covenant we affirm is that between God and the Jewish people.  This covenant is one that calls us as Jews to a particular – although not superior – set of responsibilities for improving the world and the life of all its inhabitants.

Thirdly, we create today a covenant among community and family to guard and protect, to love and support this family as they build and create their home as a family, this covenant is symbolized by the circle in which we all stand.

And finally, we create a covenant of protection, love, guidance, care and nurturance between parents and children.

We affirm these covenants by the symbolic act of wrapping this child in a tallit, a Jewish prayer shawl.  The fringes represent the accumulated wisdom of the Jewish people and mark the covenant between God and the Jewish people.  The act of wrapping symbolizes the nurturance of family that you offer this child as he/she grows and becomes his/her own person, marking the covenant between parent and child.  The witnessing of this act by all of us gathered here today, marks the covenant of extended family and community and finally, our blessings, particular in language but universal in content, denote the covenant of all humanity.

(Baby is wrapped in tallit)

The following blessing is recited:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהִתְעַטֵּף בַּצִּיצִית

Transliteration:
Barukh Ata Adonay Eloheynu Melekh HaOlam Asher Kidshanu B’mitzvotav V’tzivanu L’hitatef batzitzit.

English:
Blessed is the Source of All who makes us holy by calling us to enwrap ourselves in the tzitzitA set of fringes tied and knotted on each of the four corners of a tallit, symbolizing and reminding the user of God's commandments. Some Jews wear tzizit under their clothes at all times, with the fringes visible..

All recite together:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם זוֹכֵר אֶת הַבְּרִית

Transliteration:
Barukh Ata Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha’olam Zokher et haBrit.

English:
Blessed is the Source of All who remembers the covenant.

Naming

Parents explain the child’s name(s)

Rabbi/ leader then explains the Hebrew meaning of the child’s name

Rabbi/ leader recites blessing using full Hebrew name for the first time.

For a Female Child:

מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֵת______ בֶּן בַּת______ וְ______ וְאֵת_____ בֶּן בַּת_______ וְ____ וּבִתָם וּבִתָּן וּבִתָּהּ וּבִתּוֹ הֲנוֹלְדָה לָהֶם לָהֶן לָה לוֹ לְמַזָּל טוֹב: יִתֵּן לָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיִּים וּבְרִיאוּת בְּרָכָה וְשָׁלוֹם: וְיִקָּרֵא (הֲרֵי) שְׁמָהּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל______ בַּת_____ וְ_____: יִזְכּוּ הוֹרֶיהָ תִּזְכֶּה אִמָּהּ יִזְכֶּה אָבִיהָ לְגַדְּלָהּ וּלְחַנְּכָהּ לְתוֹרָה לְחֻפָּה וּלְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים וְנֹאמַר אַמֵּן

Mi she’berakh avoteynu Avraham, Yitzkhak, v’Yaakav v’imoteynu SarahThe first matriarch, wife of Abraham, and mother of Isaac, whom she birthed at the age of 90. Sarah, in Rabbinic tradition, is considered holy, beautiful, and hospitable. Many prayers, particularly the Amidah (the central silent prayer), refer to God as Magen Avraham – protector of Abraham. Many Jews now add: pokehd or ezrat Sarah – guardian or helper of Sarah., Rivkah, Rakhel, v’LeahThe third of the Jewish matriarchs, Lead is the eldest of Lavan's daughters and one of the wives of Jacob. She is the daughter whom Lavan tricks Jacob into marrying instead of his younger daughter Rachel, whom Jacob has requested to marry. Leah is mother to six of the the twelve tribes and to one daughter, Dinah. hu y’varekh et ________ ben/ bat _________ v’_______ v’et ________ ben/ bat ________ v’________ u’vitam/ uvitan/ u’vitah/ u’vito hanoldah l’hem/ l’hen/ lah/ lo l’mazalGood fortune, luck, and the Hebrew sign of the Zodiac. tov: Yiten lah hakadosh barukh hu khayim u’vrioot b’rakhah v’shalom: V’yikarey (harey) shmah b’Yisrael ________ bat ______ v’ ________: Yizku horeyha/ tizkey imah/ yizkey aviha l’gadlah u’lkhankhah l’torahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general. l’khupah u’lma’asim tovim v’nomar amen.

For a Male Child:

    מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֵת______ְ בֵּן בַּת______ וְ______ וְאֵת_______ בֵּן בַּת_____ וְ_______ וּבְנָם וּבְנָן וּבְנָהּ וּבְנוֹ הַנּוֹלְד לָהֶם לָהֶן לָהּ לוֹ לְמַזָּל טוֹב: יִתֵּן לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיִּים וּבְרִיאוּת בְּרָכָה וְשָׁלוֹם: וְיִקָּרֵא (הֲרֵי) שְׁמוֹ בְּיִשׂרָאֵל_____ בֵּן______ וְ_____: יִזְכּוּ הוֹרָיו תִּזְכֶּה אִמּוֹ יִזְכֶּה אָבִיו לְגַדְּלוֹ וּלְחַנְּכוֹ לְתוֹרָה לְחֻפָּה וּלְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים וְנֹאמַר אַמֵּן

Mi she’berakh avoteynu Avraham, Yitzkhak, v’Yaakav v’imoteynu Sarah, Rivkah, Rakhel, v’Leah hu y’varekh et ________ ben/ bat _________ v’_______ v’et ________ ben/ bat ________ v’________ uvnam/ uvnan/ uvnah/ uvno hanold lahem/ lahen/ lah/ lo l’mazal tov: Yiten lo hakadosh barukh hu khayim u’vrioot b’rakhah v’shalom: V’yikarey (harey) shmo b’Yisrael ________ ben ______ v’ ________: Yizku horav/ tizkey imo/ yizkey aviv l’gadlo u’lkhankho l’torah l’khupah u’lma’asim tovim v’nomar amen.

English:
May the one who blessed our ancestors, AbrahamAbraham is the first patriarch and the father of the Jewish people. He is the husband of Sarah and the father of Isaac and Ishmael. God's covenant - that we will be a great people and inherit the land of Israel - begins with Abraham and is marked by his circumcision, the first in Jewish history. His Hebrew name is Avraham., IsaacAbraham and Sarah's much-longed-for son and the second Jewish patriarch. Isaac is nearly sacrificed by his father at God's command (Genesis 22). He is married to Rebecca and is the father of Esau and Jacob. His Hebrew name is Yitzchak., and JacobLit. heel Jacob is the third patriarch, son of Isaac and Rebecca, and father to the twelve tribes of Israel. More than any of the other patriarchs, Jacob wrestles with God and evolves from a deceitful, deal-making young man to a mature, faithful partner to God. His Hebrew name is Yaakov., Sarah, RebekahThe second Jewish matriarch, Isaac's wife, and mother to Jacob and Esau. Rebecca is an active parent, talking to God when she is pregnant and learning the fate of her children, then ultimately manipulating Isaac and the children to ensure Jacob's ascendancy. Her Hebrew name is Rivka., RachelLavan's younger daughter and Jacob's beloved wife second wife (after he is initially tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah). Rachel grieves throughout her life that she is barren while Leah is so fertile. Ultimately, Rachel gives birth to Joseph and dies in childbirth with Benjamin. Rachel is remembered as compassionate (she is said to still weep for her children), and infertile women often invoke Rachel as a kind of intercessor and visit her tomb on the road to Bethlehem. and Leah, bless ______ and _______ and the child _______, born to them/ her/ him/ with mazal tov! May she/ he be blessed with life, health, goodness, and peace. May her/ his name be called (Behold her/ his name is) ________. May her/ his parents be worthy of raising her/ him, and educating her/ him for Torah, for family life, and for good deeds. And let us say: Amen.

Group sings: Siman Tov uMazel Tov!!!

Additional blessings are offered by family and friends.

Celebration

Hamotzi (blessing over bread) is recited:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִין הָאָרֶץ

Transliteration:
Barukh Ata Adonay Eloheynu Melekh HaOlam HaMotzi Lekhem Min Haaretz

English:
Blessed is the Source of Life whose power brings forth bread from the earth.