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Footwashing

Some parents use footwashing as part of a baby naming ceremony as a concrete symbol of the covenant, likening the ritual to the covenant of the rainbow which God made with Noah after the flood. Others use it as a symbol of welcome.

What follows are some words you can use to introduce the ritual washing of the baby’s feet.

When the angels visited Abraham and announced the birth of his son Isaac, Abraham greeted them by washing their feet, symbolic of their status as honored guests. Today we will greet __________, our guest of honor, by washing her feet.

As the baby is brought in by her grandparents, participants sing together. (Choose a song.)

As the baby’s feet are washed, we say:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי מְקוֹר מַיִם חַיִּים הַמְּחַיֶּה נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חַי

 Barukh Atah Adonay m’kor mayyim hayyim ham’khayeh nefesh kol khai.

בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ מְקוֹר מַיִם חַיִּים הַמְחִיַּת נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חַי
 
B’rukhah At yah m’kor mayyim hayyim ham’khiyat nefesh kol khai.

Blessed are you, Source of Living Water, who revives the soul of all living.


Read about the creation of this footwashing ritual on the Ritualwell blog.

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