Jewish birth celebrations
In Judaism, there are many celebrations that are performed when a baby is born.
These celebrations include:
- Naming the baby
- Brit Milah (Circumcision)
In the Jewish law, the human life begins at birth, which is when the baby is halfway from being mature in the mother's body.
Furthermore, it is said that a child is born pure and free of sins.
Birth
When the mother gives birth, the woman is explained as being a niddah or also referred as
taharat ha-mishpachah or family purity.
Niddah is when the woman is sexually separated from her husband for 7 days if the newborn is a male
and 14 days if it is a female.
Next, the father is given the right of an aliyah which is an opportunity to say a blessing/reading from the
Torah (Five books of Moses) during the service.
During that time, another blessing is said for the mother's health.
If the baby is a female, she would be named at that time.
What is the Torah?
The Torah is the Five books of Moses which consists of:
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
It could also mean the Jewich Bible or the Old Testament to non-jews.
Baby showers?
This was a traditional action that the Jewish people would do and it is now considered to be giving bad luck
to the baby.
Traditionally, Jewish parents would not buy clothes or discuss the baby's name prior to its birth.
The parents wanted their newborn baby to be pure so they avoided buying the baby commodities.
Naming the baby
In Judaism, if the baby was a female, the name would be given at the time of the aliyah.
However, the boy's name is given at the brit milah (circumcision).
A standard male name for a Hebrew would be (childs name) ben (father's name). On the other hand, the female's name is (childs name) bat (father's name).
It is optional for Ashkenazic Jews ( Jews from eastern France, Germany and eastern Europe) that they are named after a past relative.
The Brit milah
The Brit milah, or the Covenant of Circumcision is one of the most recognisable action observed in the world.
Circumcision is basically the physical removal of the foreskin of the boys penis.
This job will usually be completed by a Mohel which is a ritual circumciser.
Circumcision is only done for male, but there has been a few cases where a woman has been circumcised.
However, female circumcision is not part of the Jewish ritual.
Circumcision is a hygienic action as it said in the Tanakh:
"Circumcision is an outward physical sign of the eternal covenant between God and the Jewish people."
The health benefits are that when you are circumcised, there is a lower risk of getting certain types of cancers.
When is it performed?
Circumcision is performed on the 8th day of the baby's life. When the baby is born, it is counted as a day so if the baby was born on Monday, it will be circumcised the next Monday.
Sometimes the baby is born without a foreskin (happens often), a symbolic circumcision would be performed by taking a small amount of blood from the tip of the penis.
10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision,and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
Genesis 17:10-14