Newborn Ceremonies

Newborn Ceremonies

Jewish Newborn Ceremonies 101

An overview of ceremonies to welcome baby boys and girls.

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Planning a Brit Milah (Bris)

What to do before your son's circumcision.

Newborn Ceremonies

Planning and Celebrating Your Daughter’s Brit Bat

Parents face many choices in preparing a welcoming ceremony and party for their baby girl.

The Brit Milah (Bris): What You Need to Know

Questions and answers about the circumcision ceremony for Jewish baby boys.

Quiz: Ceremonies for Newborns

How much do you know about welcoming baby boys and girls into the covenant?

What Is A Mohel?

This man or woman performs Judaism's oldest religious rite.

The Circumcision Debate

While Jewish critics have arisen in modern times, brit milah is still widely practiced.

A New Welcome for Jewish Daughters

An interview with the author of the only book on welcoming ceremonies for Jewish girls reveals much about contemporary Jewish life.

Interfaith Baby Namings

Planning a ceremony when your family is multi-faith or multi-cultural.

How to Negotiate Jewish Differences

9 tips to help your family get along, even if members observe Judaism differently.

History of Jewish Ceremonies for Baby Girls

Rituals & customs marking the birth of girls have existed since biblical times, but they've blossomed in the past 30 years.

The Elements of a Brit Bat Jewish Welcoming Ceremony

Despite the relative newness and great varieties of welcoming ceremonies for girls, a basic structure appears to have emerged.

Circumcision is a Difficult Rite

Circumcision, with all its pain, reminds us of our partnership with God and the pain of fixing a broken world.

What’s in a Jewish Name?

Jewish traditions for selecting a child's name.

A History of Brit Milah

Shifting views and philosophies about the Jewish practice of circumcising baby boys on the eighth day of life.