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

Jewish Feminist Ritual and Brit Milah

By Rabbi Susan P. Fendrick | Article

How Jewish feminism is influencing this boys' ritual and enlarging meaning [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: circumcision

Reflection on an Interfaith Brit Milah

By Traci Elliot | Article

An intermarried mother reflects on her son's bris (circumcision) [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: circumcision, interfaith

Zeved Habat Origin

From the Itim Institute | Article

The biblical foundation of the centuries-old Sephardic tradition for welcoming a newborn girl [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: Sephardi, welcoming

The Structure of the Ceremony

From the Itim Institute | Article

Frameworks for the style of a welcoming and naming ritual [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: welcoming

Choosing the Date and Time of the Ceremony

From the Itim Institute | Article

Practical matters and traditions to consider [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: naming

Mystery of the Covenant: A New Ceremony of Simchat Brit

By Debra Ruth Kolodny | Article

Bringing the status and symbolism of covenant to the ceremony for welcoming and naming a daughter [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: naming, welcoming

Lechi Lach

Lyrics by Debbie Friedman, z"l & Savina Teubal (based on Genesis 12:1-2) | Song

"Lechi lach to a place that I will show you/Lech lecha to a land you do not know…" —song by Debbie Friedman, z"l based on God's words to Abraham to seek his destiny. [more]