The Brit Milah and the naming of girls
Brit MilahJewish ceremony of circumcision of an infant boy. is the naming ceremony for boys within Judaism. This takes place eight days after birth. It is then when a boy is circumcisedThe cutting off of the foreskin, usually as a religious rite especially in Judaism or Islam. as a mark of the covenantAn agreement or promise. made between God and Abraham / IbrahimWidely regarded as the father of Christians, Jews and Muslims. He was the first person to teach that there is only one God. His story is told in the biblical book of Genesis and also in the Qur鈥檃n, where he is named Ibrahim. at the beginning of the Jewish faith. Candles are lit to represent the belief that the room was lit up when MosesThe man chosen by God to save the Jews from slavery and take them to the promised land. In the Qur'an he is a messenger chosen by God to give the revelation of the Torah to the Israelites. was born. Once the circumcision is complete, the boy鈥檚 name is announced and the baby is given to his mother to be fed.
A girl is named on the first ShabbatThe seventh day of the week; a day of spiritual renewal and rest commencing at sunset on Friday and terminating at nightfall on Saturday. after her birth. There is a reading of the TorahThe books of the Law. The first five books of the Bible, often called the Books of Moses. and her father is called up. There is a celebration once the baby is named.
The Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah
The Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah mark when, in the eyes of their faith, a child becomes an adult. The Bar Mitzvah is for boys, the Bat Mitzvah is for girls.
The Bar Mitzvah takes place on the Shabbat after the boy鈥檚 13th birthday and it is on this day that a father is released from the duty of bringing up his son, 鈥淏lessed is he who has freed me from the liability of this one.鈥
The boy becomes a man and is responsible for his religious acts and beliefs. As part of the ceremony, the boy has his first reading of the Torah in the synagogueBuilding for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly..
Bar Mitzvah means 鈥楽on of the Commandments鈥 and from this point on that is what the boy is regarded as. It is a time for the male to confirm that he wishes to remain part of Judaism and, in doing so, he becomes a stronger part of his community.
Just as girls have different roles within Judaism, so too do they have different ceremonies. A Bat Mitzvah will take place after a girl鈥檚 12th birthday. It will often take place in her home, with the reciting of a blessing by the girl. However, with the current promotion of gender equality, members of the Reform and Liberal movements within Judaism will celebrate this day with an event in the synagogue.