Covenant & Naming Rituals

Historically, Jewish people have formally welcomed boys into the covenant with God, marking the occasion with celebration and circumcision. The birth of a girl was met with joy, but no ritual or communal celebration. We offer a variety of ways to formally welcome both girls and boys. You’ll also find naming rituals and blessings for parents, grandparents and children.

Latest Rituals

An intermarried mother reflects on her son’s bris (circumcision)

The biblical foundation of the centuries-old Sephardic tradition for welcoming a newborn girl

Frameworks for the style of a welcoming and naming ritual

Practical matters and traditions to consider for a baby naming ceremony

Bringing the status and symbolism of covenant to the ceremony for welcoming and naming a daughter

Go forth to a place I will show you, a land you don’t know

Blessing for loved ones (partner, children, guest, etc…) on Shabbat or any occasion

A naming ceremony written especially for an adopted child

A prayer for the gift of an adopted child in which the baby is welcomed, the parents pledge to create a good and Jewish life for the child, and ask God’s blessings for the baby’s health and well-being

A candle lighting blessing for use during a baby naming

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

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The Reconstructionist Network