Definition:
Brit Milah, also known as the “Covenant of Circumcision,” is a Jewish religious ceremony that involves the circumcision of male infants.
Etymology:
The term “Brit Milah” comes from Hebrew, where “brit” means “covenant” and “milah” means “circumcision.” Together, they signify the covenant of circumcision.
Description:
Brit Milah is a mitzvah (commandment) and a significant religious obligation for Jewish parents.
The ceremony typically includes specific prayers and blessings, such as the blessing over wine (Kiddush), the blessing of the child, and the Shehecheyanu, a prayer thanking God for allowing the participants to reach this moment. Typically the ceremony includes the naming of the child. The child is given his Hebrew name, linking him to Jewish tradition and history. Family and friends often gather to witness the ceremony and it often includes a festive meal (seudat mitzvah) to celebrate the occasion.
Symbolism:
It is a key rite of passage that symbolizes the covenant between God and the Jewish people, as established with the patriarch Abraham. It marks the infant’s entry into the Jewish community and their identity as a Jew.
The ceremony represents the parents’ commitment to raising their child within the Jewish faith and traditions.
Religion:
In Jewish law, there is no specific mandate to perform a ceremony for female children in the same way as brit milah for male children. Brit milah is a direct commandment in the Torah (the Old Testament in the Bible) for male children, specifically in Genesis 17:10-14, where God makes a covenant with Abraham and commands Abraham to circumcise himself, and command for all male infants to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. However, Jewish communities have traditionally developed ceremonies that mark the birth and naming of both male and female children. While these ceremonies are not directly mandated by Jewish law in the same way as brit milah, they have become an integral part of Jewish cultures and traditions over the centuries.