Jewish Birth Rites (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

What is brit milah?

• Jews observe many rituals throughout their lives, marking key events, including:

  • Brit milah

  • Bar Mitzvah

  • Bat Mitzvah

  • Marriage

  • Mourning rituals 

• Brit milah is the Hebrew term used to describe the religious circumcision of boys when they are eight days old or of older 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 G-d commands Abraham to circumcise himself and his offspring as a sign of the covenant between Jews and G-d

What are the rituals of brit milah?

• There are certain practices that are common during the Brit Milah ceremony

  • During 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 tallit

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

  • The child is 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 people 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

• The circumcision 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 relationship with G-d: 

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What are Jewish naming ceremonies, and why are they important?

• Jewish naming ceremonies are important rites of passage that welcome a new baby into the Jewish community and give them their Hebrew name

  • A child’s Hebrew name is formally announced and given (according to traditional custom, for the first time) during the brit milah or brit bat ceremony

  • There are different ceremonies for baby boys and baby girls

• Baby boys have a brit milah (Covenant of Circumcision)

  • This takes place on the eighth day after birth, even if it falls on Shabbat or a festival day

    • The circumcision is performed by a mohel (a trained Jewish practitioner)

    • The baby is given their Hebrew name during the ceremony

    • The ceremony marks the sign of the covenant (brit) between G-d and the Jewish people

    • Naming marks the child’s entrance into the covenant

    • The family and friends gather for the celebration

• For baby girls, the ceremony is called simchat bat (joy of a daughter) in most Orthodox traditions

  • Usually, this takes place within the first month after birth, but there is no fixed date, and the timing can vary depending on family or synagogue custom

    • The ceremony may take place at home or in a synagogue

    • A baby girl is given her Hebrew name

    • Prayers, blessings and sometimes readings or songs are included

    • In some communities, the naming happens during a Torah reading in a synagogue

    • The ceremony welcomes the girl into the Jewish community

    • It celebrates the gift of life and G-d’s blessings

• The ceremony for baby girls in Reform or Liberal Judaism is known as Brit Bat (Covenant of a Daughter)

  • The difference between brit bat and simchat bat is that brit bat places more emphasis on the baby girl’s entrance into the covenant with G-d

    • Brit bat is likely to be more ritualised than simchat bat

    • It is designed to parallel Brit Milah for boys, highlighting gender equality and inclusion in the covenant

    • It may also include symbolic rituals, such as wrapping the baby girl in a tallit