4.6.1 Judaism: Birth Ceremonies (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Brit Milah

• Jews observe many rituals throughout their lives, marking key events. These include:

  • Brit Milah

  • Bar Mitzvah

  • Bat Mitzvah

  • Marriage

  • Mourning rituals test

• Brit Milah is the Hebrew term used to describe the religious circumcision of boys at 8 days old or of males converting to Judaism:

  • It is carried out by a Mohel (male) or in some Reform communities a Mohelet (female)

  • Circumcision involves the removal of the foreskin and is a traditional Jewish practice 

  • Circumcision dates back to the Book of Genesis, when God commands Abraham to circumcise himself and his offspring as a sign of the covenant between Jews and God

The Ceremony

• A male or female friend or relative will act as a messenger, or a kvatter

• The female kvatter will hand the baby to the male kvatter who will be wearing a tallith

• He will carry the boy into a room where the males of the family are gathered

• The child is then placed on the lap of the Sandek:

  • A Sandek is someone chosen by the parents as a great honour and is often the grandfather

• The Mohel recites a blessing before the baby is circumcised:

• As soon as the mohel begins the circumcision the father (or, in some cases, both parents) recites:

• All present then respond:

• The Mohel then blesses a cup of wine and announces the baby's name in Hebrew and English

• A drop of wine is placed on the baby's tongue

• It is performed in front of a minyan

• The baby is placed on a cushion on an empty chair that is known as Elijah’s chair:

  • This represents an ancient belief that the spirit of Elijah visits every circumcision

• After the circumcision, the father receives a blessing

• During the Brit Milah a prayer is said that shows the importance of the ceremony for a child’s relation with God:  

Redemption of the First Born Son

• Pidyon Haben, or "redemption of the firstborn son" is a Jewish ceremony where the father of a firstborn male redeems his son by giving a kohen five silver coins, thirty days after the baby's birth

• Originally, the Jewish first born were the sanctified priestly class:

  • They were inducted into God’s service when they were spared from the Plague of the first born that struck Egypt

  • However, when the Jews served the Golden Calf, the first born forfeited their status

  • The priesthood was transferred to the tribe that did not participate in serving the Golden Calf (the Levites) and particularly the children of Aaron

• Ever since, all male Israelite first born must redeem themselves from a kohen in a Pidyon Haben ceremony

• The Torah's term for the first born is "the opener of the womb":

  • This means that it is the mother's first-born baby, if it is male, who is required to have a pidyon haben 

• Because there are very strict guidelines about who must be redeemed, only 1 in 10 families performs the pidyon haben ceremony

• This special ceremony is a momentous occasion and special milestone, stretching back thousands of years

• The practice orginates in the Torah:

• Jews believe that since God is the first being, it is fitting that first borns are consecrated to Him

Celebration of the First Born Girl

Brit Bat (Celebration of the Birth of a Daughter)

• Originally, Judaism had no special home celebration to welcome female infants into the covenant:

  • Traditionally, fathers were given an aliyah (the honour of reciting the blessing before and after a section of the weekly Torah portion was read) at the synagogue the first Shabbat after a girl was born

  • The child received her Hebrew name at the same time

  • After services, both parents were honoured at a congregational kiddush

• A few congregations began to create their own ceremonies for girls, and the popularity of the idea quickly made it a widespread practice

• Ceremonies that celebrate the birth of a daughter and her entry into the covenant of the Jewish people are known by a variety of names, including b'rit bat and b'rit chayim

The Ceremony

• Although ceremonies may vary, there are certain practices that are common to many celebrations:

  • Singing together is a powerful way to to bring everyone together in fellowship. Someone leads people in a Jewish traditional wordless tune, called a niggun

  • There is an introduction welcoming everyone to the joyous occasion with an outline of what to expect from the service

  • The Hebrew words Brucha ha-ba’ah b’shem Adonai ("Welcome in the name of the Creator"), is usually recited by the person leading the welcoming ceremony, or by all the assembled guests, to greet the baby as she is carried into the room

  • There are blessings of thanksgiving by the baby’s parents and a prayer of thanks (Birkat haGomel) is given by the mother for getting through childbirth

  • The parents recite prayers and readings related to parenting and the baby

  • Then there is a ritual welcoming for this new daughter into the Covenant: 
    

    • This might involve wrapping her in a tallit (prayer shawl), lighting candles, immersing her in a mini-mikveh (a stand-in for an actual mikveh, or ritual bath), or washing her hands and feet

  • The name of the child is then explained, and recitation of formal naming blessings giving her Jewish (Hebrew or Yiddish) names

  • Parents, older siblings or beloved relatives present meaningful gifts to the baby, like a tzedakah box, kiddush cup or candlesticks

  • Following this there is often recitation of prayers, poems and other readings by honoured guests

  • Blessings of gratitude from the baby’s parents follow; these are known as shechechiyanu, and are often recited when an individual or family reaches a new occasion like the birth of a daughter

  • The traditional blessing, ending with the words hatov v’hameitiv ("the One who is good and renders goodness"), is said upon hearing good news for an individual or for the community

  • The ceremony finishes with another song or two

  • Before everyone enjoys a festive meal, Hamotzi ("blessing over bread") takes place:

    • The blessing is recited over bread (usually challah) which serves as the blessing over the entire meal to follow

    • Many families dip the challah into honey to set apart this sweet day

    • Everyone is then invited to join in the meal

Bar Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah 

• The term Bar mitzvah literally means "Son of the Commandments"

• Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies mark the transition into adulthood for young Jews

• At age 13 a boy becomes Bar Mitzvah and at age 13 a girl becomes a Bat Mitzvah

• Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies are significant because they are seen as the time of coming of age, when a child becomes an adult

• After these ceremonies Jewish boys or girls become responsible for living according to Jewish Law and obeying the Mitzvot in the Torah

• At this point, each young person has to accept the law and its obligations, participate fully in services at the synagogue and set a good example for others

• After the ceremony, a Jewish boy can be counted as part of a minyan, and in Reform synagogues, girls who are Bat Mitzvah can also be counted

• Traditionally, a boy’s Bar Mitzvah will take place on Saturday (Shabbat) but many will hold the Bar Mitzvah service on a weekday morning as well

Bar Mitzvah Ceremony

Bar Mitzvah Ceremony

• During the ceremony, the rabbi gives a talk, speaking to both the boy and his family and to the rest of the community:

  • The boy might also give a talk to the people gathered

• It is traditional for the boy to receive gifts and there is usually a celebratory meal

• For the most part, a boy’s Bar Mitzvah service will be held at the synagogue, though some may choose to hold it in a private venue

• Following the Bar Mitzvah service is typically a celebration or reception that may be held in a private room, restaurant or synagogue social hall

Boy during Bar Mitzvah

Boy during Bar Mitzvah

Bat Mitzvah

• Unlike the Bar Mitzvah, the Bat Mitzvah is not mentioned in the Hebrew Bible:

  • The ceremony of Bar Mitzvah dates back to the sixth century, but the observance of Bat Mitzvah was only introduced in 1922 in the United States

• The Bat Mitzvah is only practised by Reform and Liberal Jewish communities and not Orthodox

• Traditionally, within Judaism, males and females are not thought to have the same responsibilities:

  • As a result, in some Jewish communities, some rules (such as the requirement to read from the Torah) are less strict for girls than they are for boys

• The ceremony follows a similar pattern to the Bar Mitzvah and happens around a girl’s 12th birthday

• Although a Bat Mitzvah ceremony is not required by Jewish law, it is used to recognise a Jewish girl as a woman and to define her as such in her community

• Reform and Liberal Jews today consider the Bat Mitzvah in much the same light as the Bar Mitzvah

Bat Mitzvah Ceremony

• The ceremonies of Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah are generally the same

• During her Bat Mitzvah, a girl may read from the Torah or she may instead read a prayer from the Siddur

• It is generally followed by a private family celebration, where the girl has a chance to address her family and friends personally at her new stage of life

• One key difference between Bar Mitzvahs or Bat Mitzvah ceremonies is the Torah portion that the child reads

  • In a Bar Mitzvah ceremony, the young man typically reads from the Torah portion assigned to that week

  • In a Bat Mitzvah ceremony, the young woman may read from the same portion or may choose a different portion that is meaningful to her

• Another difference between the two ceremonies is the tradition of dancing the hora

  • This lively dance is typically performed at Bar Mitzvah celebrations, but is less common at Bat Mitzvah celebrations