Naming Ceremony for an Adopted Child

Bonnie. B’rukha ha-ba’ah. We welcome you!
You are your parents’ dreams realized, their hope fulfilled.
You are the latest and best chapter in the unfolding of the lives of your Mother and Father
You are brand new—a symbol of today and tomorrow
Your life is a new and clean slate upon which people and events will leave their impression.
You are a bridge over which we who welcome you can gaze from this day into future days, from our generation into your generation.
You are the newest link in the endless chain of our people’s history.

Bonnie, B’rukha haba’ah b’ahavah, we welcome you into the community of the Jewish people—with love.

 

מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה וּמִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה וְאֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּהּ בַּת אֲבִיחַיִל, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַיַּלְדָה הַנְעִימָה הַזֹּאת בְּמַזָּל טוֹב וּבְשָׁעַת בְּרָכָה וְיִקָּרֵא שְׁמָהּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל ________ בַּת _______, וַיְגַדְלֶהָ בִּבְרִיאוּת שָׁלוֹם וּמְנוּחָה. וִיזַכֶּה אֶת אָבִיהָ וְאֶת אִמָּהּ לִרְאוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָתָהּ וּבְחוּפָּתָה וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן 

Mi sheberakh 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. uMiryam ha-n’vi’ah v’ester hamalkah bat avikhayil, hu y’varekh et hayaldah ha-n’imah hazot b’mazalGood fortune, luck, and the Hebrew sign of the Zodiac. tov uv’sha’at b’rakhah v’yikareh sh’mah b’yisrael ___________ bat __________, vai’gadleha biv’riut shalom, vm’nukhah. Vi’zakeh et aviha v’et imah lirot b’simkhatah uv’khuppatah v’khen y’hi ratzon v’nomar amen.

May God who blessed Sarah and 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 Leah, MiriamMiriam is the sister of Moses and Aaron. As Moses' and Aaron's sister she, according to midrash, prophesies Moses' role and helps secure it by watching over the young baby, seeing to it that Pharaoh's daughter takes him and that the baby is returned to his mother for nursing. During the Israelites' trek through the desert, a magical well given on her behalf travels with the Israelites, providing water, healing, and sustenance. the Prophetess, and Queen EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution., daughter of Avichayil, Bless this sweet child with good fortune and timely blessings. And may her name be called among the Daughters of 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. Bonnie, Daughter 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. and Sarah. May she be raised in good health, peace and tranquility. Grant that her parents watch her grow happily and look forward to escorting her to the marriage canopy. May this be God’s will. And let us say, Amen.

Name Equals Destiny:

We gave our daughter the name Binah Libi after Sarah’s maternal grandmother Libi Bat Shmuel Hillel HaCohenPriest. Descendants of Aaron who served in the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, in the absence of a Temple, Jews continue to keep track of who is a Cohen. A Cohen is accorded certain privileges in synagogue and is forbidden from entering a graveyard or marrying a divorcee. Priesthood is patrilineal – if one’s father was a Cohen, then one is a Cohen. and my maternal grandmother Binah Bat Yitzchak HaCohen who was born on Simchat TorahThe holiday at the end of Sukkot during which Jews dance with the Torah late into the night. The yearly reading cycle of the Torah is completed and a new cycle is begun. Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah mark the end of the holiday season. In some congregations, the Torah scroll is unrolled in its entirety, and selected verses are read or sections noted.. Like Bonnie she was the first girl in the family. Binah embodied the traits of cheerfulness, compassion, and understanding. We hope that by endowing Bonnie with the name Binah, which denotes understanding and ultimately wisdom, that she will be a woman with a profound understanding of her role in the world. Understanding leads to joy and so we fervently pray that she will be a person who radiates joy as well and brings joy not only to her family and the house of Israel but to all of humanity. We waited over 30 years for a child to carry the name of my grandmother, and I am confident that Bonnie will be most worthy of this role. My grandmother’s nishama now lives in Binah Libi.

My grandma Lilly (Libi) was the daughter of an Orthodox rabbi who served as a rabbi in Haverstraw, New York and Charleston, South Carolina. Her feelings of love for Yiddishkeit and her passion for the observance of the mitzvotLit. 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." were transferred to her two children and even her children’s children and G-D willing even to Bonnie. Grandma Lilly was a giving person, unselfish in every way and treated her family and friends with respect, dignity, and love. After providing a college education for my mother and aunt, she herself returned to getA writ of divorce. Traditionally, only a man can grant his wife a get. Liberal Jews have amended this tradition, making divorce more egalitarian. her high school diploma and then to Newark State Teachers College (where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa) in order to be certified as a teacher. Her life certainly reflected the meaning of her name Libi (loved one). To grandma Lilly every child she taught was treated like her own. Kids actually cried to get into her class. Grandma Lilly never spoke about the past, but always lived for the future. She always lived a life of hope.

Her greatest joy was to be with her 5 grandchildren and the 10 great grandchildren (who called her G.G. for great grandma). I know grandma Lilly is watching over us today and is very proud that Bonnie is now carrying her name. I am sure that the love she passed to me will be transmitted to Bonnie.

In biblical literature, we find two well-known examples of individuals who “adopt” children into their families. Pharaoh’s daughter brings the foundling infant, MosesThe quintessential Jewish leader who spoke face to face with God, unlike any other prophet, and who freed the people from Egypt, led them through the desert for forty years, and received the Torah on Mt. Sinai. His Hebrew name is Moshe., into the palace and raises Moses as her son. And, in Shushan, in Persia, Mordecai takes his orphaned niece, Esther, into his home and raises her as his daughter.

In the TalmudThe rabbinic compendium of lore and legend composed between 200 and 500 CE. Study of the Talmud is the focus of rabbinic scholarship. The Talmud has two versions, the main Babylonian version (Bavli) and the smaller Jerusalem version (Yerushalmi). It is written in Rabbinic Hebrew and Aramaic., we learn: “Whoever raises a child is to be considered the parent.” And according to Jewish law, it is a privilege to adopt a child.

Throughout the ages you have blessed us, HashemLit. The Name, referring to the ineffable name of God; used as a substitute for any of the more sacred names of God when not speaking in prayer. Particularly used in conversation., with women who tended the altars of our faith.

Through these noble women, Israel was redeemed; because of them Israel has survived.

They have inspired and guided our youth; they have preserved and transmitted our traditions.

May the women in our generation, like those of the past, keep Israel your eternal witness.

May they, like Sarah, zealously guide their young, keeping them constant and steadfast in their faith; then shall our children remain ever devoted to you.

May our women, like Rachel, be deeply concerned for the children of Israel wherever they dwell, sharing their glory, feeling their pain, and helping to rebuild their homeland.

May we, like HannahHannah is the mother of the prophet Samuel, who, through her prayers, is rewarded a child. She herself is also considered a prophet. Hannah's intense devotional style of prayer becomes the model, in rabbinic Judaism, for prayer in general., who joyfully brought Samuel to Shiloh for service to Hashem, also bring our children for guidance and light to the house of Hashem.

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.:

When Israel stood at SinaiAccording to the Torah, God, in the presence of the Jewish people, gave Moses the Torah on Mount Sinai (Har Sinai). to receive the torah, Hashem said to them: “I am giving you my torah. Give to me good guarantors that you will guard it, and I shall give you the torah.”

The Elders answered: “Our ancestors will be Guarantors.”

Hashem, said: “Your ancestors are not sufficient guarantors. Give me better guarantors and I shall give you the gift of the torah.”

They said: “Ruler of the universe, our prophets Yeshayahu, Yirmiyahu, and Yechezkel are our guarantors.”

G-D said to them: “The prophets are not sufficient guarantors. Give me good guarantors and I shall give you the torah.”

They said: “Our children will be guarantors.”

Hashem, said: “They are certainly the best guarantors. For their sake I give you the Torah if you promise to teach the Torah to your children and your children’s children.”

We pray, Bonnie, that your life will be one of never-ending passion for Judaism. May you stand in love and in awe of the creator of the universe. We hope that you will be enthralled with the study of our sacred texts and will joyfully celebrate our festivals and moments. To help fulfill this dream, we commit ourselves to offering you the finest quality Jewish education we can obtain for you, both in school, during vacations, and at home where we study, pray, and rejoice together in love.

Chuppah:

We hope, Bonnie, your life will be one of never ending growth as a human being capable of giving and receiving love. It is our hope and prayer that when it is your time to build your own family, you will begin it under the Chupah Keda’at Moshe V’Yisrael.

Ma’Asim TovimLit. Good deeds. The traditional prayer for a newborn infant at his or her brit milah or baby naming concludes, "May s/he grow to Torah, to Chuppah, and to ma'asim tovim.":

We hope your life, Bonnie, will be one of good deeds, acts of loving kindness, filled with a never-ending concern for family and community, justice and mercy. We hope you will give of your time, energy, and resources for the rebuilding of Eretz Yisrael, the Jewish community in America and to the righteous and needy of all the world. We hope that you will make these themes your priorities in your life. We will certainly do our part by showing you how important they are to us, through our own actions and deeds.

All in unison:

If you fulfill this dream, if you live a life of Torah, Chuppah, and Ma’asim Tovim, then all of Israel will rejoice with you.
Miracles and gifts are very much on our minds today as we celebrate the miracle of our daughter Bonnie.
We give thanks for the gift of her life with which we have been entrusted.
We ask ourselves, as all parents have asked for generations, how shall we train our child in the way she should go, so that when she is older she will continue on the path of righteousness, justice, and compassion.
Tradition teaches that good examples are the best way to raise a child;
When we encircle our daughter with love, she will be loving.
When we are thankful for life’s blessings, she will be thankful.
When we express friendship, she will be a friend.
When we speak words of praise, she will praise others.
When we set an example of honesty, our child will be honest.
When we practice patience, she will be patient.
When we confront misfortune with fortitude, she will learn courage.
When our lives affirm our faith in the enduring values of life, our daughter will rise above doubt and skepticism and learn belief and faith in G-D.

Gifts:

We have given thanks for the life which we have received and have given tzedakahCharity. In Hebrew, the word tzedakah derives from the word for justice. Tzedakah is not seen as emanating from the kindness of one’s heart but, rather, as a communal obligation. in honor of Bonnie’s birth. Today, we also give gifts to our child:

We give our daughter the gift of Judaism: a heritage filled with traditions and culture, warmth and beauty, history and beliefs, family and community, and a sense of identity. Bonnie need never wonder who she is or where she belongs. She is firmly anchored in time and her life is forever bound up with the life of her people.

We give our daughter the gift of education. We want to share our love of learning with Bonnie and help her appreciate the wonderful and fascinating world into which she has come. We also want her to take part in the great mission of our people—Tikkun OlamLit. Repair of the world According to Jewish mysticism, the world is in a broken state. Humanity's job is to join God, as God's partners, in its repair., to make this world a better place to live.

We give our daughter the gift of independence. Let our love for Bonnie always be healthy and positive, never stifling or possessive. We will support and protect her, but let us remember that she will find her own path to maturity. As she grows, our daughter will have her own thoughts, ambitions, and commitments. May we always try to respect and appreciate her uniqueness, and to teach her this respect for others.

We give our daughter the gift of friends. Our close circle of friends will help her to know a world of warm and caring human beings, to learn the meaning of commitment and friendship. We hope that one day Bonnie will also be blessed with a community of friends who share in her joys and her accomplishments.

We give our daughter the gift of family. She is blessed with four grandparents—Bernard & Miriam and George & Shirley, her great-great-aunt Rose and great-great uncle Abe and her great aunts and uncles Arnold, Doris & Ira, and Janice & Lewis, who we trust will teach her to live and enjoy life. We want Bonnie to know her aunts, uncles, and cousins and to appreciate them as we do. We hope she will always experience the warmth and excitement of family gatherings.

We give our daughter the gift of unconditional love. Bonnie will always know that her parents and family cherish her and value her, not for her achievements in life, but because she is a unique and beautiful human being whose life we are privileged to share.

 

   רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָם בָּרֵךְ אֶת הַיַּלְדָה הַזֹּאת בְּחַיִּים שֶׁל שִׂמְחָה חַיִּים שֶׁל טוֹבָה חַיִּים שֶׁל חָכְמָה. יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁתִּהְיֶה יַלְדָּתֵנוּ עֹשָׂה שָׁלוֹם וְרוֹדֶפֶת שָׁלוֹם בֵּין אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ. חַזֵּק יָדֵינוּ לְהַדְרִיכָה בְּדַרְכֵּי תּוֹרָה וֶאֱמוּנָה וְאַמְּצֵנוּ לִהוֹלִיכָה בְּעִקְבוֹת גִּבּוֹרוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁמַּעֲשֵׂיהֶם זָרְחוּ לָנוּ בְּכָל דּוֹרוֹת עַמֵּנוּ

Ribon ha-olam barekh et ha-yaldah hazot b’khayim shel simkhahA happy occasion. Usually describes a celebration for a life cycle event (birth, wedding, etc.). khayim shel tovah khayim shel khokhmah. Y’hi ratzon shetih’yeh yal’dateynu osah shalom v’rodefet shalom beyn ish l’re’ehu. Khazek yadeynu l’hadrikhah b’darkhey torah ve’emunah v’amtzeynu liholikhah v’ikvot gibborot yisrael shema’aseyhem zarkhu lanu b’khol dorot ameynu.

Our G-D and G-D of our ancestors may the life of this child be one of happiness, goodness, and wisdom. Grant that she may seek peace and pursue an end to strife in the world. May she spread light on all who know her. May she study the Torah and find delight in it. May she follow the steps of other great leaders of Israel, whose deeds continue to shine across the span of time.

Rabbi Bunim, the Hassidic Rebbe, said, “We learn three things from the young child about how to serve G-D. First, the child is always happy at being alive. Second, the child is always active. Third, the child always cries for what it wants. In the same fashion, we as adults should serve G-D in a joyful mood just like a child. We should always be as active as a child in performing G-D’s mitzvot, and we should also remember, just like a child, to tearfully implore Hashem to fulfill our wishes.”

Rabbi Bunim was certainly correct in teaching us that not only does a child learn from his parents but parents may also learn from their child. May Bonnie always be a good example to her parents and family.

The MidrashA rabbinic method of interpreting text, often through the telling of stories., in its great wisdom, asks: “How shall this child be blessed?”

The angel answered: The angel blesses her with a smile, and it is our prayer that Bonnie always have a genuine warm and sincere smile.

The angel also blesses the child with eyes that could see all living things and we pray that Bonnie will see the good in all people, sense the spark of divinity in every human being and have respect for nature and life.

The angel also blesses the child with a heart that could feel all that is seen. We hope Bonnie will grow to be sensitive and understanding, compassionate and benevolent, and have a heart of gold.

Please rise and read in unison:

 

Y’simekh elohim k’Sarah Rivkah Rakhel v’Leah
Y’varekh’kha Adonay v’yishm’rekha
Yaer Adonay panav elekha vikhunekha
Yisa Adonay panav elekha v’yasem l’kha shalom.

May God Make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.
May God bless you and keep you.
May God shine God’s countenance unto you and be gracious to you
May God life God’s countenance to you and may God give you peace.

With all our heart, soul and might, we pray for the continued good health of Bonnie.
We pray for her to be strong in mind and body, to grow steadily and sturdily in a home filled with great joy.
We pray for her to become a person who greets the world with vitality, courage, humility, and patience.
With all our heart, soul and might, we pray for G-D to watch over her and her family.
We pray for the ability to love and nurture this child, to provide for her, to educate her, to understand her, and to allow her the freedom to grow.
Our Dear Bonnie,
May you live to see your world fulfilled.
May your destiny be for worlds still to come.
May you trust in generations past and yet to be.
May your heart be filled with intuition and your words with insight.
May songs of praise ever be on your tongue, and your vision be on a straight path before you.
May your eyes shine with the light of holy words, and your face reflect the brightness of the heavens.
May your lips ever speak wisdom, and your fulfillment be in righteousness.
Even as you yearn to hear the words of ShemaThe most central prayer in Jewish liturgy, the Shema states: "Hear O Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is One." These words are written inside mezuzot and t'fillin. It is traditionally said during all major services and when waking and going to sleep., our ancient prayers of faith.

Sarah and Jay recite:

 

  שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל הי אֶלוֹקֵינוּ הי אֶחָד

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה 

סִימָן טוֹב וּמַזָּל טוֹב יְהֵא לָנוּ וּלְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל