The Bris

Adam had his Bris yesterday and is now circumcised and named. For those of you who don't know what a bris is below is a little information for you.

The word Bris means covenant; the word Milah, to cut. Ritual circumcision is the covenant God has established with the Jewish people through the commandment of circumcision. The Bris ceremony has two parts:the actual circumcision and the naming. It is customary to honor family and friends to participate in holding the baby at various parts of the bris. The highest honor is to be the sandak, who holds the baby during the actual circumcision. It is not required to have a minyan- a group of ten at the bris. The parents can choose to have a private ceremony on the eighth day and have a reception on a later day when they are more rested. The naming of the child is the most emotional part of many bris ceremonies. Ashkenazic-European Jews have the custom of naming after the deceased. The immortalizing of a close relative or friend is a beautiful tradition. Sephardic Jews have the tradition to name after the living. A child may have one or more names, in accordance with the parents' desires. Adam's hebrew name was after my aunt Esther who past away last spring, Elijah.

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday. It was a special day in Adam's life and we are so happy that you could share it with us.

Adam already has a girlfriend who is 9 hours older than him!