Lenny:
This ceremony is one of covenant – 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.. Through our actions today our daughter enters into a covenant relationship with the history and the life of the Jewish people, tying her destiny to that of her people and imbuing her life with meaning. Ten and one half years ago, Lori and I entered into a covenant of another sort – kiddushinThe first part of the traditional wedding service in which the groom acquires the bride by giving her a small token, usually a ring, and declaring that she is betrothed to him according to Mosaic law. Today, most non-Orthodox couples have made this ceremony egalitarian, exchanging rings and empowering the bride to speak too. Some, disliking the property aspects of the ceremony, have dispensed with it altogether, substituting a brit shutafut – a partnership covenant. – the covenant of marriage. That covenant was sealed over a cup of wine and the recitation of seven blessings. We ask our parents and sisters to recite seven blessings, based on those of the wedding ceremony. As they come up and recite a blessing, we ask each family member to sign our daughter’s naming certificate.
Grandfather Rudy:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם יוֹצֵר הָאָדָם
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם יוֹצֶרֶת הָאָדָם
Feminine: B’rukhah at YahA name for God, as in "halleluyah" – praise God. Some people prefer this name for God as a non-gendered option. Eloheynu Ruah ha’olam yotzeret ha’adam.
Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of humanity.
Grandfather Sol:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ, בְּצֶלֶם דְּמוּת תַּבְנִיתוֹ, וְהִתְקִין לוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ בִּנְיַן עֲדֵי עַד: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְ-יָ, יוֹצֵר הָאָדָם
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר יָצְרָה אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְּמָהּ בְּצֶלֶם דְּמוּת תַּבְנִיתָהּ וְהִתְקִינָה לָנוּ מִמֶּנּוּ בִּנְיַן עֲדֵי עַד. בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֲשֶׁר בַּאֲרָהּ אוֹתָנוּ בְּצַלְּמָהּ
Masculine: Barukh Atah Adonay Eloheynu Melekh ha’olam asher yatzar et ha’adam be’tzalmo b’tzelem d’mut tavnito v’hitkin lo mimeynu binyan adey ad. Barukh atah Adonay eloheynu melekh ha’olam yotzer ha’adam.
Feminine: B’rukhah At Yah Eloheynu Ruah ha’olam yatzrah et ha’adam be’tzalmah b’tzelem d’mut tavnitah v’hitkinah la mimeyna bin’yan adey ad. Brukha at yah eloheynu ruah ha’olam yotzeret ha’adam.
Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who created human beings in Your image, and Your likeness, and out of their very selves You prepared for them a perpetual spiritual being. Praised are You, our Lord, Creator of humanity.
Grandmother Lola:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַחַיִּים
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדַּשְׁתָּנוּ בְּמַצּוֹתֶיהָ וְצִוְּתָנוּ עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַחַיִּים
Masculine: Barukh Atah Adonay Eloheynu Melekh ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al kidush hakhayim.
Feminine: B’rukhah At Yah Eloheynu RuakhLit. Spirit. Some new versions of blessings call God "Spirit of the World" (Ruakh Ha’olam), rather than "King of the World" (Melekh Ha'olam). ha’olam asher kidshatnu b’mitzvotey’ha v’tzivatnu al kidush hakhayim.
Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who commands us to sanctify life.
Aunt Marcy:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם זוֹכֵר הַבְּרִית וְנֶאֳמָן בִּבְרִיתוֹ וְקַיַם בְּמָאֳמַרוֹ
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם זוֹכֶרֶת הַבְּרִית וְנֶאֳמָנָה בִּבְרִיתָהּ וְקַיֶּמֶת בְּמָאֳמַרָה
Masculine: Barukh atah Adonay eloheynu melekh ha’olam zokher ha’brit v’ne’eman biv’rito v’kayam b’ma’amaro.
Feminine: B’rukhah at Yah eloheynu ruakh ha’olam zokheret ha’brit v’ne’emanah bivritah v’kayemet be’ma’amarah.
Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who remembers the covenant and who is steadfastly faithful in Your covenant, keeping your promise.
Grandmother Janet:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי מְשַׂמֵּחַ הוֹרִים עִם הַיְּלָדִים
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ מְשַׂמֵחֶת הוֹרִים עִם הַיְּלָדִים
Masculine: Barukh Atah Adonay m’sameakh ho’rim im ha’yeladim.
Feminine: B’rukhah At Yah m’samekhet ho’rim im ha’yeladim.
Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who causes parents to rejoice with their children.
All Family Members:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָתְנוּ וְקִיְּמָתְנוּ וְהִגִּיעָתְנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה
Masculine: Barukh Atah Adonay Eloheynu Melekh ha’olam shehekheyanu v’kimanu v’higianu lazman hazeh.
Feminine: B’rukhah At Yah Eloheynu Ruakh ha’olam shehekheyatnu v’kimatnu v’higiatnu lazman hazeh.
Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us, for enabling us to reach this day of joy.
Aunt Sharon:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵאת פְּרִי הַגָפֶן
Masculine: Barukh Atah Adonay Eloheynu melekh ha’olam borey pri hagafen.
Feminine: B’rukhah At Yah Eloheynu ruakh ha’olam boret pri hagafen.
Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
