log in | create an account
GET EMAIL UPDATES

Welcoming & Raising Children

We greet each child with affection and joy. Every baby comes to us full of promise and potential. As parents, we are privileged to welcome them into our families, our communities and the embrace of the Jewish people. Raising children to adulthood, we encounter many milestones along the way. Children are weaned, lose their teeth, and start school. Some get their driver’s licenses and eventually leave home for good. Here are rituals for welcoming children and for celebrating the milestones on their paths to adulthood.

Photo by Jordan Cassway

A Grandparent's Welcome

Grandchildren are the crown of their elders and the glory of their parents. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: grandparents

Ritual Thrones

At a brit ceremony an infant boy is traditionally placed on the Chair of Elijah. New chairs have been created including Thrones of Miriam and Deborah. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: Elijah

Carrying the Baby

A ritual performed at the beginning of a baby-naming ceremony as the baby is welcomed into the community. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: welcoming

Footwashing

The baby's feet are washed in a number of ceremonies either as a symbol of covenant or as a symbol of welcome. [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: covenant, footwashing, welcoming

Welcome Prayer I

Traditional blessing of welcome [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: welcoming

Welcome Prayer II

A slightly longer version of the traditional blessing for welcoming a baby at a babynaming ceremony [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: welcoming

Verses for Welcoming the New Baby

A variety of selections from scripture [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: welcoming

D'ror Yikra

Traditional liturgical poem (piyut) for welcoming the baby, also known as "Donash ben Labrat" in Ladino [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: welcoming

Ya'alat Chen – A Graceful Gazelle

Traditional liturgical poem (piyut) for welcoming the baby [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals

Tags: welcoming

Blessing the Graduate

Modern blessings for a daughter or son [more]

Found In: Covenant & Naming Rituals, Friday Evening, Graduation

Tags: Marcia Falk