Birth rites - Brit Milah

Brit Milah means 'the Covenant of Circumcision'. Circumcision makes the boy part of the covenant with Abraham and the Jewish community. It represents a physical commitment to God and to obeying God's laws.

Features of the Brit Milah

• On the eighth day following birth, a godmother will hand the baby to a godfather who carries the boy into a room where the males of the family are gathered. The baby is put on the knee of the sandek who is usually the grandfather.
• The mohel recites a blessing. The baby is circumcised.
• 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.

Because the child is now part of the covenant, he has to follow thecommandments that apply to all Jews, living his life within the Jewish community, respecting the laws and traditions that apply to all Jews, includingSabbath observance, dietary laws and prayer.

Commitment

Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah

At puberty (13 years old for a boy and 12 years old for a girl) a Jewish boy or girl becomes responsible for living by the Jewish Law. She or he has to accept the law and its obligations in full, take part in synagogueservices and set a good example.

The boy is now counted as part of the minyan and may lead part of the services.

According to Jewish law, he or she is also now eligible to own property and to get married.

Before his 13th birthday, a Jewish boy will attend lessons, usually at the synagogue, in Hebrew and in how to read the Torah aloud.

On the Sabbath nearest to his 13th birthday, the boy will become Bar Mitzvah. During the Sabbath service, the boy will read aloud part of the Torah or a section of the Prophets. He will wear the tefillin for the first time.

The Rabbi will address part of his talk to the boy and the boy might give a talk to the rest of the assembly. The boy's father will then recite a prayer of thanks for his son's coming of age.

After the service there will usually be a party to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah.

A girl from a Liberal Jewish community will prepare for her Bat Mitzvah in a similar way to a boy preparing for his Bar Mitzvah, but she will do this around the time of her 12th birthday. However, during the Bat Mitzvah ceremony itself, the girl will not wear the tefillin.

Orthodox Jews do not accept Bat Mitzvah and do not allow girls to count as part of the minyan or to lead services.

Bat Chayil

Bat Chayil means 'daughter of valour' and is an Orthodox Jewish ceremony. It takes place…