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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

Traditional Blessing for Naming a Daughter

With Hebrew, a traditional blessing for a girl [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: naming

Deuteronomy 29:9-13

God incorporates all future generations into the covenant at Mt. Sinai. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: covenant

Every Person Born into This World

Readings celebrating the uniqueness of each child [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: Martin Buber

Traditional Sephardic Mishebeirach for Naming a Daughter

With Hebrew, a traditional Sephardic blessing for a girl [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: naming, Sephardi

Naming Formula – Mishebeirach

From a traditional Zeved Habat, with slight modifications [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: naming

From Our Foremothers

Modern prayer invoking the foremothers [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals, Choosing & Affirming a Jewish Life

Genesis 17:1-16

God makes a covenant with Abraham, commands Abraham to circumcise himself and his descendants, and changes Abraham and Sarah’s names. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: covenant

The Naming

Giving the first gift, the gift of a name [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: naming

May the One Who Blessed Our Mothers

Modern prayer in Hebrew and English invoking the matriarchs [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: mi sheberakh, naming

On Bringing a Child Home for the First Time

Welcome Your New Child: A joyous prayer for first home coming [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: adoption, welcoming