Celebrate Birth!

For baby boys, a Brit Milah ceremony (also known as a Bris) is held on the eighth day of life. During the ceremony, usually presided over by a Mohel, a baby boy is brought into the sacred covenant between God and the Jewish people through ritual circumcision, prayer and a festive meal.

At Temple B’nai Abraham, we are happy to provide you with the names of several different well-regarded Mohalim (Mohels) whom you can contact to arrange your event. Our Gittlin Chapel is perfect for hosting the ceremony, and we have several different options for hosting the reception which typically follows.

For baby girls, or for boys who have had a surgical circumcision in a hospital or other setting, we offer the beautiful tradition of a Baby Naming Ceremony. Granting a Hebrew name is an essential aspect of entering the covenant of the Jewish people.

During the Naming ceremony, parents and child ascend the bimah and receive a blessing and the formal acceptance of a Hebrew name from the clergy. You may choose either a Friday evening service, or a Saturday morning service. On Saturday, in addition to the blessings involved in the naming, the parents are called to the Torah to recite the blessings before and after the Torah reading.

For more information on naming and brit milah, or to schedule your event, please contact Debbie Meron, clergy assistant, at 973.994.2290, ext 211. To schedule facility use for a bris or naming, please contact Marcia Swaybill at 973.994.2290, ext 210.