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.
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
Lighting a candle, symbolic of the new soul born into the world. Can also be used like a yahrzeit candle to recall the departed soul for whom the baby is named. Also a covenantal symbol.
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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