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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

Brit Otiyot - Covenant of Letters

Shared by Rabbi Shira Shazeer |

Welcoming a baby girl while marking her with the letters of "Shadai" as a sign of the covenant [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: naming, welcoming

From our Forefathers

Rachel Gruenberg | Prayer

A blessing for a son, drawing inspiration from our forefathers [more]

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

Tags: torah

Hinay Ma Tov (Psalm 133) [MP3]

Shared by Ann R. Silverman-Limor (aka Rahel) | Song

An upbeat and funky melody for this popular song from Pslam 133 [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals, Friday Evening, Daily Prayer & Mindfulness, Saturday

Simkhat Bat - A Welcoming Ceremony For a New Daughter

Shared by Rabbi James Greene | Complete Ceremony

Invoking the prophetess Devorah and symbolically wrapping tzitzit to welcome a baby girl [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: covenant, Debbie Friedman, mi sheberakh, shehekheyanu , tzitzit, welcoming

A Grandparent's Prayer for a New Grandchild

Naomi Levy | Prayer

A prayer to be said upon holding a grandchild for the first time [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals, Grandparenting

Seven Blessings

By Lori Lefkovitz and Rabbi Lenny Gordon | Ritual Component

Recalls the concept of the Sheva Brachot which follow a wedding ceremony [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: covenant, shehekheyanu , yotzer

Excerpted from Seder Brit Eloheha

By Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz | Ritual Component

Excerpt from an original babynaming ceremony in which the baby is welcomed into the covenant by perfuming her ears with myrtle. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: covenant

Mikveh

Ritual Component

Some families immerse the newborn in a small mikveh, symbolic of the covenant. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: covenant, mikveh

A Ner Nishamah

By Lori Lefkovitz and Rabbi Lenny Gordon | Ritual Component

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. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: candle lighting, covenant

Tallit

Ritual Component

Some couples wrap the baby in a tallit, perhaps the one used as their chuppah, as a symbol of covenant. Others do so as a symbol of welcome [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: covenant, tallit