| “All your children
shall be taught of the Eternal One, and great shall be
the peace of your children (Is. 54:13).”
When a child is born, it is important that parents
be given an opportunity to give thanks to God and to seek
God’s guidance in the upbringing of the child.
Brit Milah (The Covenant
of Circumcision) The circumcision of a baby
boy symbolizes God's covenant with the Jewish people.
A Brit Milah is normally performed on the eighth day after
the child's birth, even if it falls on Shabbat or a holiday,
by a Mohel (circumciser), who has been specially trained
in the traditional Jewish way of doing it. Postponements
are permitted, however, if the health of the child warrants.
The original motivation for Brit Milah is not known but
it is especially associated with Abraham (Gen. 17:9-14)
and also with Elijah, the champion of the Covenant (I
Kings 19:14). ‘Liberal Jews observe the practice
as a matter of conforming to a particularly ancient Jewish
practice, deeply embedded in Jewish emotion.’For
details of registered members of the Association of Liberal
and Reform Mohalim, please contact Monique Blake at the
Montagu Centre on
020 7580 1663
Initiation of a girl into
the covenant Throughout history, women have
played their part in transmitting Jewish heritage from
generation to generation. Baby girls are initiated into
the covenant in a ceremony written specifically for the
occasion. The purpose of the readings and prayers is to
seek God's blessing and to pray for her future happiness.
Baby Blessings This
ceremony is usually performed as part of a Shabbat Service.
It enables parents to thank God for the safe delivery
of their child together with relatives and friends and
allows members of Communities to share this unrepeatable
moment and welcome the child into the community.
Many Liberal Jewish parents follow the ancient custom
of giving a child a ‘Hebrew’ name. The Rabbis
of Liberal Judaism are always glad to help parents find
appropriate Hebrew equivalents for names, or to find out
the meaning and English equivalents of Yiddish or Hebrew
names traditional in their family.Orthodox Jews still
practice Pidyon ha-Ben (Redemption of the son), an ancient
ritual that relates to passages in Torah (Ex. 13:2 and
Num 3:11-13). Liberal Jews consider the ceremony no longer
meaningful but parents do mark the birth of a child with
Tzedakah (charity).
For information please contact Rabbi Aaron Goldstein on 07764 192 696 or contact your local rabbi |
