The baby is brought into the community by his aunt and uncle.
בָּרוּךְ הַבָּא
Baruch ha-ba.
Blessed are you who bear the divine presence.
Holding the baby, the mother says:
My son, my child, you have been as dear to me as my own breath. May I hold you gently now with the love to keep you close and the strength to let you grow.
Father takes the baby and says:
My son, my child, a piece of my life is you. You have grown to life apart from me, but now I hold you close to my heart and cradle you in my arms with my love.
The baby is given to his aunt.
The mother offers a prayer of gratitude for her good health.
Birkat Hagomel
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַגּוֹמֵל לְחַיָּבִים טוֹבוֹת שֶׁגְּמָלַנִי כֹּל טוֹב
Barukh atah Adonay Eloheynu melekh haolam hagomel l’khayavim tovot sheg’malani kol tov.
Blessed are You Adonai Ruler of All, Who does good to the undeserving and Who has dealt kindly with me.
מִי שְגָמָלֵך כֹּל טוֹב הוּא יִגְמְלֵךְ כֹּל טוֹב סֶלָה
Mi sh’gamalekh kol tov hu yigmalekh kol tov selah.
May the One Who has shown you kindness deal kindly with you forever.
Mother and Father say:
We have been blessed with the gift of new life. We have shared love and pain and joy in bringing our son into life.
By the way we live, we aspire to teach our son to become a caring and loving person. We hope that in seeking to fulfill himself, he will accept his responsibilities to others and to his heritage. We dedicate ourselves to the creation of a Jewish home and to a life of compassion for others, hoping he will learn from our example.
God of our grandfathers, God of our grandmothers, we pray for covenant love, for life, for good. Keep us strong together.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי מְקוֹר הַחַיִּים מְשַׂמֵּחַ הוֹרִים עִם הַיְּלָדִים
Barukh ata Adonay, m’kor hakhayim m’sameiakh hahorim im hay’ladim.
Blessed is the holy source of life, who causes parents to rejoice with their children.
Aunt gives the baby to Grandmother.
Parents say:
We are ready to fulfill the mitzvahLit. Commandment. It is traditionally held that there are 613 mitzvot (plural) in Judaism, both postive commandments (mandating actions) and negative commandments (prohibiting actions). Mitzvah has also become colloquially assumed to mean the idea of a “good deed." of circumcision, as it is written in the 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., “Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when is eight days old.”
Rabbi says:
In Jewish folklore, ElijahElijah is a biblical prophet who is said never to have died. There are therefore many legends associated with Elijah. In the Talmud, unresolved arguments will be resolved when Elijah comes. He will herald the coming of the messiah. In Jewish ritual, Elijah is a liminal figure, arriving at moments of danger and transition – at a brit milah, a chair is put out for him, a cup is poured for Elijah at the Passover seder, and he is invoked at havdalah. His Hebrew name is Eliyahu. is regarded as the forerunner of messianic days, the one who announces the advent of the Messiah. As we recall Elijah now, we rekindle our faith that every human life may yet bring about y’mot hamashiach, the era of harmony and peace for all people.
Grandmother gives baby to grandfather (sandekThe person given the honor of holding the child through the brit milah (ritual circumcision). This is the highest honor at a brit and is usually given to a grandfather or uncle or someone very close to the family.).
MohelRitual circumciser. The person who performs the brit milah for a baby boy.:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל הַמִּילָה
Barukh atah adonay eloheynu melekh ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al hamilah.
Blessed by the Presence whose sanctity fills our lives, we fulfill the mitzvah of circumcision.
Circumcision is performed.
Mother and Father, repeating after the mohel:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַכְנִיסוֹ בִּבְרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ
Barukh atah adonay eloheynu melekh haolam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hakhniso bivrito shel Avraham avinu.
Blessed by the Presence whose sanctity fills our lives, we bring our son into the covenant of 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., our father.
Rabbi:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פָּרֵי הַגָפֶן
Barukh atah Adonay Eloheynu melekh haolam borey p’ri hagafen.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדֵּשׁ יְדִיד מִבֶּטֶן וְחֹק בִּשְׁאֵרוֹ שָׁם וְצֵאֵצְאַיו חָתַם בְּאוֹת בְּרִית קֹדֶשׁ. עַל כֵּן בִּשְׂכַר זֹאת אֵל חַי חֶלְקֵנוּ צוּרֵנוּ צַוֵּה לְהַצִּיל יְדִידוּת שְׁאֶרוֹ מִשַּׁחַת לְמַעַן בְּרִיתוֹ אֲשֶׁר שָׁם בִּבְשָׂרֵנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי כּוֹרֵת הַבְּרִית
Barukh atah Adonay Eloheynu melekh haolam asher kidesh y’did mibeten v’khok biseyro sham v’tzey’eytzav khatam b’ot 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. kodesh. Al ken biskhar zot el khai khelkeynu tzureynu tzavey l’hatzil y’didoot sh’eyro mishakhat l’ma’an b’rito asher sham bivsareynu. Barukh atah Adonai koret habrit.
אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאִמוֹתֵינוּ קַיֵּם אֶת הַיֶּלֶד הַזֵּה לְאָבִיו וּלְאִמוֹ וְיִקָּרֵא שְׁמוֹ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל _____ בֵּן ______. (יִשְׂמַח הָאָב בְּיוֹצֵא חֲלָצָיו וְתָגֵל אִמּוֹ בִּפְרִי בִטְנָה. כַּכָּתוּב: יִשְׂמַח אָבִיךָ וְאִמְּךָ וְתָגֵל יוֹלַדְתְּךָ) וְנֶאֱמַר: וְאַעֲבֹר עָלַיִךְ וָאֵרְאֵךְ מִתְבּוֹסֶסֶת בְּדָמַיִךְ וְאָמַר לָךְ בְּדָמַיִךְ חֲיִי. וְנֶאֱמַר: זָכָר לְעוֹלַם בְּרִיתוֹ, דָּבָר צִוָּה לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר. אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת אֶת אַבְרָהָם וּשְׁבוּעָתוֹ לְיִצְחָק וְיַעְמִידָה לְיַעֲקֹב לְחֹק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרִית עוֹלַם. וְנֶאֱמַר וַיַמַל אַבְרָהָם אֶתְ יִצְחַק בְּנוֹ בֵּן שְׁמֹנָת יַמִּים כְּאַשֵּׁר צִוָּה אֹתוֹ אֱלֹהִים. הוֹדוּ ליי כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלַם חַסְדּוֹ
Eloheynu v’elohey avoteynu v’imoteynu kayem et hayeled hazeh l’aviv u’limo v’yikarey sh’mo b’yisrael ______ ben _______. Yismakh ha’av b’yotzey khalatzav v’tagel bifri vitnah. Kakatuv: Yismakh avikha v’imkha v’tagel yolad’t’kha. V’neyeymar: v’a’avor alayikh vaeyreykh mitboseyseyt b’damayikh v’amar lakh b’damayikh khayi. V’ne’emar: zakhar lolam b’rito davar tzivah l’elef dor. Asher karat et Avraham u’s’vuato l’Yitzkhak v’yamidah l’Yaakov lkhok l’Yisrael brit olam. V’ne’emar: Va’yamal Avraham et Yitzkhak b’no ben sh’monat yamim kasher tzivah oto Elohim. Hodu l’Adonai ki tov l’olam khasdo.
_____ בֵּן ______ זֶה הַקָּטָן גָּדוֹל יִהְיֶה. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּכְנַס לַבְּרִית כֵּן יִכָּנֵס לְתוֹרָה לְחֻפָּה וּלְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים.
______ ben ________ zeh hakatan gadol yiyeh. K’shem shenikhnas labrit ken yikanes l’Torah l’khupah ul’ma’asim yovim.
Blessed is the presence whose sanctity fills our lives and ripens fruit on the vine.
You have sanctified your beloved from the womb, establishing your holy covenant throughout the generations. May devotion to the covenant continue to sustain us as a people. Blessed by the presence whose sanctity fills our lives, we give thanks for the covenant.
God of all life, sustain this child and let him be known in IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel. as _________ son of _________ and ___________.
May the father rejoice in his offspring and the mother be glad with her children. May you teach him through word and deed the meaning of the covenant forever, the word commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant made with Abraham, 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., 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., 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., RebeccaThe 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 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., an eternal covenant for Israel. As it is said, “And Abraham circumcised his son when he was eight days old, as God commanded.” Give thanks to God for what is good, for covenant love that endures forever.
May this little child _______ son __________ and ______________, grow into manhood as a blessing to his family, the Jewish people and humanity. As he has entered the covenant of our people, so may he grow into a life of Torah, chupah, and good deeds.
Parents speak about the name.
Song
Parents bless their son:
יְבָרֵךָ אֲדֹנָי וִישַׁמֶּרְךָ
יָאֵר אֲדֹנָי פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶךָ
יִשָּׂא אֲדֹנָי פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וַיָּשֶׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
Y’vareykha Adonai vishameyr’kha
Ya’er Adonai panav eleykha v’khune’kha
Yisa Adonai panav eleykha v’yasem l’kha shalom.
May God bless you and keep you.
May God be with you and be gracious to you.
May God show you kindness and give you peace.
Parents and guests:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה.
Barukh atah adonay eloheynu melekh haolam sheheheyanu v’kiymanu v’higianu lazman hazeh.
Blessed be the Presence Whose sanctity fills our lives and who has given us life and sustained us and enabled us to reach this joyous moment.
