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עבריתThe Brit begins when the baby’s escorts carry him to the ceremonial platform, and the audience stands in his honor:
The congregation: Baruch Haba (“Welcome”)
The Mohel: Ashrei tivchar u’tekarev yishkon chatzeirecha (Psalms 65:5)
The congregation: Nisba’a b’tuv beitecha, k’dosh heichalecha (Psalms 65:5)
The father, wrapped in a tallit, receives the baby (on a pillow) into his arms and says:
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: Adonai Melech, Adonai Malach, Adonai Yimloch l’olam va’ed
Congregation: Adonai Melech, Adonai Malach, Adonai Yimloch l’olam va’ed
(Repeat x2)
Father: Ana Adonai Hoshia Na (Psalms 118)
Congregation: Ana Adonai Hoshia Na
(Repeat x2)
Father: Ana Adonai Hatzlichah Na (Psalms 118)
Congregation: Ana Adonai Hatzlichah Na
(Repeat x2)
Some traditions add the following verses at this point:
The Mohel: And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Pinchas, son of Elazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from upon the children of Israel when he zealously avenged Me among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My vengeance. Therefore, say: Behold, I give him My covenant of peace. (Numbers 25:10–12)
The Mohel or a designated guest takes the baby (on the pillow) from the father and places him on Elijah’s Chair under supervision, while reciting:
Mohel: This is the chair of Elijah the Prophet, remembered for good.
For Your salvation I hope, O Lord (Genesis 49:18),
I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and I perform Your commandments (Psalms 119:166).
Elijah, the Angel of the Covenant – behold, yours is before you; stand at my right side and support me.
I long for Your salvation, O Lord, I rejoice in Your word like one who finds great spoil.
Great peace have those who love Your law, and there is no stumbling for them.
Happy is the one You choose and bring near, to dwell in Your courts; we will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple. (Psalms 65:5–6)
The Sandak, wrapped in a tallit, sits on Elijah’s Chair, receives the baby into his arms, and places him on his lap. The Mohel then recites the following verses and prepares the baby for the circumcision.
The Mohel finishes preparing the baby and recites:
Mohel: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us regarding circumcision.
Congregation: Amen.
This is the moment of the actual circumcision.
Since the responsibility for the mitzvah (commandment) lies with the child’s father, the custom is for the father to verbally appoint the Mohel as his agent:
Father: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to bring him into the covenant of Abraham our father.
Congregation: Amen.
Father: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
Congregation: Amen. Just as he has entered into the covenant, so may he enter into Torah, marriage, and good deeds.
Naming the Baby:
The next blessing includes announcing the child’s name. The one saying the blessing pauses after “and he shall be called in Israel,” waiting for the father to whisper the chosen name or pass it written on a note.
Second Blessing Leader:
Our God and God of our ancestors, sustain this child for his father and his mother. And let his name be called in Israel: [Name] son of [Father’s Name] and [Mother’s Name]. May the father rejoice in his offspring, and may the mother delight in the fruit of her womb, as it is written: “Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice” (Proverbs 23:25). And it is said: “And I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, and I said to you, ‘In your blood, live!’” (Ezekiel 16:6).
And it is said: “He remembers His covenant forever… which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac, and confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant” (Psalms 105:8–10). And it is said: “And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him” (Genesis 21:4). “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever” (Psalms 118:1).
Congregation: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.
Leader: [Name] son of [Father’s Name] and [Mother’s Name], may this little one grow to be great.
Congregation: Just as he entered the covenant, so may he enter Torah, marriage, and good deeds. Amen.