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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.

Photo by Jordan Cassway

Welcoming Daughters

Looking at a baby girl and feeling the joy of celebrating who she is and who she will become are wonderful experiences. A welcoming foot washing ceremony is one way of concretizing that joy. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: birthdays

Brief Meditation for Name Change Ceremony

Name changes can be both liberating and intimidating. Taking a brief moment to recognize the holiness of the act, and to affirm the dignity of the recipient of the new name, can be transformative. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals, Endings & Beginnings

Tags: name change, naming

Blessing for My Daughter at Her Bat Mitzvah

A mother's blessing for her daughter's journey into adulthood [more]

Found In: Bar / Bat Mitzvah, Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: tallit, tzitzit

A Ritual That Can Cut Both Ways

The concept of circumcision is both a deeply powerful ritual practice and a profoundly troubling remnant of a different time.  [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: circumcision

Adapted Traditional Bris Milah Ceremony

Shifting the focus away from the circumcision and toward welcoming [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: circumcision, gomel, mi sheberakh, priestly blessing, tekhine, welcoming

A Tekhine For A New Mother

A prayer in English and Yiddish to be recited on the occasion of a son's bris [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: circumcision, tekhine, Yiddish

A Welcoming Ritual

Awakening a child's senses by anointing with oil and sharing inspirational verses [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: covenant, welcoming

Elijah Comes Tonight

A fun rendition for welcoming Elijah into your home [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals, Ending Shabbat: Havdalah, Songs at the Seder Table

Tags: Elijah

Prayer for Making First Decisions About Gender for a Child

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

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals, Gender & Sexual Identity

Tags: LGBTIQ, naming, welcoming