Simkhat Ben
Phrases from the Bible are used to form an acrostic of the child’s name – a tradition in ceremony and prayer – in this welcoming ceremony for an adopted son who has not yet undergone conversion.
A Mother’s Prayer at Her Son’s Circumcision
Celebrating the gift of life through faith, love, and courage
A Grandparent’s Prayer
A blessing of gratitude
A Letter to God
A mother expresses her ambivalence about circumcision in this powerful letter
Struggling with Circumcision
A letter from a father to his son about his conflicted decision to circumcise him
Jewish Feminist Ritual and Brit Milah
How Jewish feminism is influencing this boys’ ritual and enlarging meaning
Reflection on an Interfaith Brit Milah
An intermarried mother reflects on her son’s bris (circumcision)
Zeved Habat Origin
The biblical foundation of the centuries-old Sephardic tradition for welcoming a newborn girl
The Structure of a Baby Naming Ceremony
Frameworks for the style of a welcoming and naming ritual
Choosing the Date and Time of a Baby Naming Ceremony
Practical matters and traditions to consider for a baby naming ceremony
