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

A prayer in English and Yiddish to be recited on the occasion of a son’s bris

Awakening a child’s senses by anointing with oil and sharing inspirational verses

Prayer for Jewish parents as they name, welcome, and make first decisions about gender for their child

Welcoming a baby girl while marking her with the letters of “Shadai” as a sign of the covenant

A blessing for a son, drawing inspiration from our forefathers

An upbeat and funky melody for this popular song from Pslam 133

Invoking the prophetess Devorah and symbolically wrapping tzitzit to welcome a baby girl

Recalls the concept of the Sheva Berakhot used in a wedding ceremony

Excerpt from an original babynaming ceremony in which the baby is welcomed into the covenant by perfuming her ears with myrtle

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