In search of a physical covenant, some families wrap the baby in a tallitA four-cornered garment to which ritual fringes (tzitzit/tzitzi'ot) are affixed. The knots in the fringes represent the name of God and remind us of God's commandments. The tallit is worn during prayer and can also be drawn about oneself or around the bride and groom to symbolize divine protection., a four-corned ritual garment. Sometimes the tallit was used as a huppahMarriage canopy symbolizing the couple's new home. at the parents’ wedding. Other times it is a gift to the baby to use when she is able.
Some words to use with this ritual:
As we prepare to enter you into the covenant, we take this tallit, the tallit with which we began our family, our huppah, and embrace you in it. As we wrap you in our tallit, we enter you into the family of our people and covenant you to God, our 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., and the people 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..
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַכְנִסָה בִּבְרִתַם שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה
Masculine: Barukh atah adonai eloheinu melekh ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hakhnisah biv’ritam shel Avraham v’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..
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְשָׁתְנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָה וְצִוַּתְנוּ לְהַכְנִסָה בִּבְרִתַם שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה
Feminine: B’rukhah at ya eloheinu ruah ha’olam asher kid’shatnu b’mitzvoteha v’tzivatnu l’hakhnisah bi’vritam shel Avraham v’Sarah.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has commanded us to enter this child 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. and Sarah (or the People Israel).
