CHAPTER TWO - Birth Ceremonies and Life Beginnings

B: TEXT SECTION (continued)

32: THE BRIT MILAH CEREMONY

The discussion which parallels the text of this ceremony is found in part one of this chapter, Section 11 (“But what does it mean?”).

When the child is brought in, all those present rise and say:

Blessed is he that comes in.

The mother raises the baby to the female “Kvatter” (young couple, who passes him to her husband. The father takes the baby from the “Kvatter” and says the following, with the congregation responding after every line.

Hear O Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One.
G-d is king, G-d was king, G-d will be king for ever.
Please G-d deliver us. Please G-d deliver us.
Please G-d let us prosper. Please G-d let us prosper.

The Mohel takes the child and places him on the seat chosen as the Chair of Elijah and says:

This is the Throne of Elijah, may he be remembered for good. For Your deliverance I have hoped, G-d. I have longed for Your deliverance, G-d, and I have fulfilled Your commandment. Elijah, messenger of the circumcision, behold, yours is now before you. Stand at my right hand and support me. I have longed for Your deliverance. I am happy with Your word, like one who finds great gain. Great is the peace for those who love Your Torah and there is no barrier for them. Fortunate is the one whom You choose and bring near so that he may dwell in Your courts.

All those present respond:

May we be satisfied with the goodness of Your House, the holy place of Your Sanctuary.

Before the mohel performs the circumcision, the father of the child says:

Behold, I am prepared and ready to fulfill the positive commandment commanded me by the Creator, blessed be He to circumcize my son.

The mohel now takes the child and says:

The Holy One, blessed be He, said to or father Abraham, Walk before Me and be perfect”. Behold, I am prepared and ready to fulfill the positive commandment that the Creator, blessed be He, commanded us to circumcize.

The mohel places the child on the knees of the Sandak and before performing the actual circumcision says:

Blessed are You O Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the circumcision.

As the mohel performs the actual act of circumcision, the father says:

Blessed are You, O Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to bring him into the covenant of our father Abraham.

All those present say:

Amen! Even as has entered into the Covenant, may he enter into [the study of and life of] Torah, the wedding canopy and good deeds.

One of the guests now recites the following over a cup of wine:

Blessed are You, O Lord our G-d, king of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Blessed are You, O Lord our G-d, who sanctified [Isaac] the beloved one from birth and set Your statute in his flesh, and sealed his offspring with the sign of the holy covenant. Therefore, on this account, living G-d, our Portion, our Rock, give the command to rescue the beloved soul within our flesh from destruction for the sake of His Covenant that He has set in our flesh. Blessed are You O G-d, maker of the covenant.

Our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, preserve this child to his father and his mother and may his name be called in Israel ----- the son of -----. May his father rejoice in his offspring and may his mother exult in the fruit of her womb. As it is written: "Let your father and mother rejoice and let her who gave birth to you exult.” And it is said, "And I passed you and saw you staggering in your blood, and I said to you, "In your blood, live,” and I said to you, “In your blood, live.”

And it is said: “He remembered His Covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations which He made as a treaty with Abraham, and which was His oath to Isaac. And He established it for Jacob as a statute, for Israel as an everlasting Covenant.”

And it is said: “Abraham circumcized his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as G-d had commanded him.”

Thank the Lord for He is good, for His kindness endures forever. This little child ----- the son of -----, may he become great. Even as has entered into the Covenant, may he enter into [the study of and life of] Torah, the wedding canopy and good deeds.

A little wine from the cup is given to the newborn child and the mohel and the father of the child recite the following:

Lord of the world, may it be Your will to accept in satisfaction and regard favorably [the circumcized child], as if I had brought him as a sacrifice before Your glorious throne. And You, in Your great mercy, send a pure and holy soul by way of Your holy angels to my son ----- the son of ----- who has just now been circumcised in honor of Your great name. May his heart be open like the Temple entrance to Your holy Torah, to learn and to teach and to keep and to do. Grant him long days and years, a life of fear of sin, a life of richness and honor, a life in which You will fill the wishes of his heart for good. Amen, and may it be Your will.

This is the end of the ceremony.