And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my Covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My Covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between Me and you. He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised; every male throughout your generations… (Genesis 17:9-12).

Introduction

MAZEL TOV on the birth of your child. This is an exciting time for the parents and the extended family. The Bris Ceremony will represent a significant event in the life of your child. The Bris, or Brit Mila, represents more than a circumcision. It represents our Covenant with God, a connection to our Jewish past, a celebration of the birth of your child, and the hope for a bright future. Each of these themes will be represented at your child’s Bris.

The Bris ceremony contains two parts. The first part concerns the ceremonial aspect of the Bris as well as the actual circumcision. The act of the circumcision is a very short period, usually about one minute. The second part of the service involves the baby naming. This is usually an emotional part as the parents are encouraged to talk about the person (people) that the baby is named after and the characteristics that they hope their baby will have in common with them. After the ceremony, it is customary to have a festive meal (se-udat mitzvah) for all of your guests. The entire service lasts between 20-25 minutes.