The Ceremony
The Brit Milah ceremony consists of three parts: the ceremony and circumcision, the baby naming, and the customary festive meal known as the seudat mitzvah. All told, the entire ceremony lasts between 30-45 minutes, depending on the number of participants and speeches. The actual circumcision takes less than 5 minutes. The family may choose to have a Rabbi present, but it is not necessary. If you do choose to invite your Rabbi, we will work together to share the ceremonies and blessings.
Baruch Haba!
Everyone will stand and welcome the young child to the ceremony. Ushered in by the kvatter and kvatterin, guests of honor (often the grandmothers or aunt and uncle), he is greeted with a cheerful "Baruch Haba!" ("Blessed is he who enters!"). He is then usually handed to the Standing Sandek (usually one of the grandfathers), who then sits in a chair designated for the prophet Elijah.
Next, he is passed to the mother and then to the father, who announce their desire to fulfill the Jewish tradition of Brit Milah. There are also readings available for the grandparents, as well as for additional honored guests, if desired.
The Naming Ceremony
Naming your baby after a family member is a common tradition. The child is given his Hebrew name, with the recitation of the blessing in Hebrew and in English. Afterwards, as the child is prepared for the circumcision, there is an opportunity for the parents to welcome their guests and to talk about the family member for whom their son is named.
The Circumcision
The Sitting Sandek (usually another grandfather) is the person who is responsible for watching over your baby during the circumcision procedure. This is considered the most honored position of the ceremony. The child is prepared for the circumcision by feeding him some sugar water mixed with kosher wine, and a local anesthetic is administered as well. This will significantly decrease the discomfort he feels during the procedure!
The parents state their desire to fulfill the mitzvah of brit milah, assigning the mohel as their proxy. The Sandek will hold the baby’s arms while I recite the traditional blessing and perform the circumcision before giving him to his mother. After the procedure is completed and the wound is dressed, the parents recite a prayer recognizing that they have fulfilled the obligation to enter their son into the covenant of Abraham. The assembled guests recite a prayer of hope for the child expressing their desire for him to become learned of Torah, marriage, and good deeds. A Prayer of Healing is then uttered, the Priestly Benediction follows, and then the closing prayers of Shehechiyanu, prayer over the wine, and Hamotzi (prayer over bread) are recited.
The ceremony concludes with a traditional singing of "Siman Tov U’Mazel Tov" (May good signs and fortune light your way).
The Seudat Mitzvah
What do Jewish people do to celebrate a happy occasion? We eat! After the ceremony, the family will gather together to celebrate this joyous time and centuries-old tradition with a meal.
I will stay for a short period after the circumcision to ensure your baby isn't experiencing any complications and to talk with you about care of the circumcision. I will call you the following day to check on you, but you can reach out to me at any time if you have any concerns whatsoever.