Español
עבריתSome have the custom to recite before the Brit verses from the portion of Yitro (Exodus 20:21–23), from the book of Jeremiah (33:25–26), and from Psalms (Psalm 12), as well as passages from the Zohar (Parashat Lech Lecha, 95) and from Petichat Eliyahu. It is customary to begin the ceremony with various hymns, such as Likvod Hemdat Levavi, Yehi Shalom, Yom Leyabasha, Yeromem Tzur, Elohai Avi, and others.
The Brit begins when the baby is brought to the platform, and the congregation rises in his honor:
Mohel: “Blessed are those who sit and those who stand.”
Congregation: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Psalms 118:26).
The sandak receives the baby (on a pillow), passes him to the father wrapped in a tallit, and says:
Father: “I rejoice at Your word like one who finds great spoil” (Psalms 119:162).
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then they shall offer bulls on Your altar” (Psalms 51:19–21).
Father: “Happy is the one You choose and bring near, to dwell in Your courts” (Psalms 65:5).
Congregation: “We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple” (Psalms 65:5).
Father: “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy” (Psalms 137).
Father: “Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
Congregation: “Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.”
Father: “The Lord reigns, the Lord has reigned, the Lord shall reign forever and ever.”
Congregation: “The Lord reigns, the Lord has reigned, the Lord shall reign forever and ever.”
(Repeated twice)
Father: “Ana Adonai hoshia na” (Psalms 118).
Congregation: “Ana Adonai hoshia na.”
(Repeated twice)
Father: “Ana Adonai hatzlichah na” (Psalms 118).
Congregation: “Ana Adonai hatzlichah na.”
(Repeated twice)
Father: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to bring him into the covenant of Abraham our father.”
Congregation: “Amen. Just as he has entered the covenant, so may he enter the Torah, marriage, and good deeds.”
(According to another custom, the congregation responds:)
Congregation: “Bless God in the assemblies, the Lord from the fountain of Israel” (Psalms 68:27). “When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves—bless the Lord” (Judges 5:2). “Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice” (Psalms 50:5). “I rejoice at Your word like one who finds great spoil” (Psalms 119:162).
The sandak, wrapped in a tallit, sits on the “Chair of Elijah,” takes the baby into his arms, and places him on his knees.
The mohel recites the following verses and prepares the baby for the Brit:
Mohel: “This is the chair of Elijah the Prophet, the angel of the covenant, remembered for good.”
This is the time for the actual circumcision. Since the obligation of performing the circumcision rests upon the father, it is customary for the father to appoint the mohel explicitly with these words:
Father: “Behold, I appoint you as my agent to perform the mitzvah of circumcising my son on my behalf.”
When the mohel finishes preparing the child, he recites:
Mohel: “With the permission of my teachers and rabbis,”
Congregation: “With the permission of Heaven.”
Mohel: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the circumcision.”
Congregation: “Amen.”
The mohel now performs the circumcision. The baby usually cries briefly and then calms down. The mohel soothes the baby by letting him suck a finger, a pacifier, or a bit of wine. Immediately after the circumcision, the father recites:
Father: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.”
Congregation: “Amen.”
The following blessings are recited by the mohel or the person designated as “the one who recites the blessings.” If desired, two people can share:
– The first says the blessings over the wine, spices, and the covenant.
– The second says the blessings for the child and announces his name.
First Blessing Leader (holding a cup of wine):
Leader: “Savri Maranan.”
Congregation: “LeChaim!”
Leader: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.” (and drinks)
Congregation: “Amen.”
Leader (holding a fragrant myrtle branch):
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of fragrant trees.”
Congregation: “Amen.”
Leader:
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified the beloved from the womb, established a decree in his flesh, and sealed his offspring with the sign of the holy covenant.
For this reason, in reward for this, the living God is our portion, our Rock. Command to save Your beloved people, the holy seed, our relatives, from destruction, for the sake of the covenant that You placed in our flesh.
Blessed are You, Lord, who establishes the covenant.”
Congregation: “Amen.”
Announcement of the Name:
In this section, the baby’s name is proclaimed. The leader stops at the phrase “and his name shall be called in Israel,” at which point the father whispers the name or hands him a note with the baby’s name and the names of the parents.
Second Blessing Leader:
“Our God and God of our fathers: Sustain this child for his father and his mother. May his name be called in Israel: [baby’s name], son of [father’s name and mother’s name].
May the father rejoice in the offspring of his loins, and may the mother exult in the fruit of her womb, as it is written: ‘Let your father and mother rejoice, and let her who bore you exult’ (Proverbs 23:25).
And it is said:
‘I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, and I said to you: In your blood, live! In your blood, live!’ (Ezekiel 16:6).
And it is said:
‘He has remembered His covenant forever, the word He commanded to a thousand generations, which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac, and confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant.’
‘Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His kindness endures forever’ (Psalms 118:1).
[Baby’s name] son of [father’s and mother’s name]: May this little one grow to greatness [or: May God make him great].
Just as he entered the covenant, so may he enter into the Torah, into marriage, and into good deeds [and some add: ‘May it be fulfilled in him as it is written: May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe.’]
And so may it be His will, and let us say: Amen.”
Congregation: “Amen.”
It is customary to conclude with a Psalm blessing the child and his family with prosperity and descendants:
Mohel and congregation together:
“A Song of Ascents (Psalm 128):
Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.
When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.
The Lord bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
Yes, may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel.” (Psalm 128)
At the end of the Brit, especially if it was held after the morning prayer (Shacharit), it is customary to recite:
– Kaddish
– Aleinu Leshabeach
– Various piyyutim (liturgical poems) for the Brit.