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.
A traditional Sephardic blessing for a girl
From a traditional Zeved Habat, with slight modifications
God makes a covenant with Abraham, commands Abraham to circumcise himself and his descendants, and changes Abraham and Sarah’s names
Modern prayer in Hebrew and English invoking the matriarchs
A joyous prayer for a child’s first home coming
Blessing over wine, said at all joyous gatherings. Included are masculine and feminine blessings and a non-gendered blessing by liturgist Marcia Falk.
Revised traditional “Harakhaman” for a baby naming
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