The Bris Ceremony
What happens at the bris
The bris is short, joyous, and rich with meaning. Here is the order of the ceremony and what each honor involves, so your family and guests know exactly what to expect.
The order of the ceremony
The bris takes place during the daytime, preferably in the early morning hours, and the whole ceremony takes only a few minutes. It is important that a minyan, at least ten Jewish men over bar mitzvah, be present throughout, as a larger gathering is a greater honor to Hashem and to the mitzvah.
- The baby is brought in
The kvatter carries the baby into the room, and everyone greets him with "Baruch Haba."
- Kisay shel Eliyahu
The baby is placed for a moment on the Chair of Eliyahu HaNavi, who is present at every bris.
- The father appoints the mohel
The father formally designates Rabbi Goldberg as his shaliach, his representative, to perform the bris on his son. The father keeps his talis and tefillin on for the bris.
- The bris
The baby is placed on the sandek's lap and the bris is performed. The father recites the bracha of "lehachniso bivriso shel Avraham Avinu," and everyone responds: "Just as he has entered the bris, so may he enter into Torah, chuppah, and maasim tovim."
- The brachos over wine
Two blessings are recited over a cup of wine while the baby is held by the standing sandek.
- Krias shem: the naming
The baby receives his Hebrew name, announced to family and friends for the first time, followed by a mi shebeirach for a complete and speedy healing.
- The seudas mitzvah
The bris is celebrated with a festive meal, concluding with the special additions to bentching said at a bris.
A printable version of the full ceremony, with all the brachos and responses, is available on the Resources page.
The honors, explained
Part of preparing for the bris is deciding which family members and friends to honor. Rabbi Goldberg provides an honors sheet in the Bris Binder to help you plan.
- Kvatter Brings the baby in
- Traditionally given to a married couple. It is often given to a couple awaiting children of their own, as a segulah, since by bringing the baby to his bris they act "like parents."
- Kisay shel Eliyahu Places the baby on Eliyahu's chair
- The honor of placing the baby on the Chair of Eliyahu. Taking the baby off the chair, min hakisay, can be given as a separate honor.
- Sandek Holds the baby during the bris
- The most distinguished honor of the bris, steeped in meaning. Families traditionally choose a righteous individual they admire, often a grandfather or rav, whose values they hope will influence the child.
- Amida l'brachos The standing sandek
- Holds the baby while the two blessings are recited after the bris. Holding the baby during the naming, amida l'krias shem, can be a separate honor.
- Brachos Recites the blessings
- The honor of reciting the two brachos over the wine after the bris.
- Krias shem Names the baby
- The honor of calling out the baby's name for the very first time.
Not sure whom to honor? This is one of the most common questions parents have. Rabbi Goldberg is happy to talk it through with you. There are also ways to split or add honors so that more family members can participate.
Let's schedule the bris.
Reach out as soon as your son is born, or even before. Rabbi Goldberg will help you work out the right day and guide you through everything that follows.