Preparing for the Bris
Everything ready, nothing forgotten
From the first phone call to the morning of the bris, here is exactly what to do. Rabbi Goldberg walks every family through each step personally.
Step one: call as soon as your son is born
Reach out to Rabbi Goldberg as soon as possible after the birth, or even beforehand. The date of the bris depends on exactly when your son was born, including the time of day, so have the date and time of birth handy. Rabbi Goldberg will help you determine the correct day and plan from there.
Supplies to have ready at the bris
Please have the following items at the bris location:
- Triple Antibiotic Ointment (Neosporin) or Bacitracin (large)
- A & D Ointment (large tube)
- Hydrogen Peroxide (small)
- 4 Diapers, Baby Wipes
- 2 Receiving Blankets
- 50 Gauze Pads, 3x3 inches (open the package before Shabbos or Yom Tov)
- 2 Firm Pillows
- Milk or Formula Bottle, Pacifier
- Bottle of closed sweet wine (Mevushal)
- Goblet with Tray
- 2 Candles and Holders (not for a Shabbos or Yom Tov bris)
If you are unable to obtain any of the supplies, please let Rabbi Goldberg know so arrangements can be made before the bris.
A printable version of this checklist is included in the Bris Binder.
On the day of the bris
- Please refrain from feeding the baby for 1 hour prior to the bris.
- Mother and baby should be at the bris location 15 minutes before the bris is called for.
- If the bris falls on Shabbos, remember to add a candle for your son when lighting Shabbos candles.
The night before: the Vach Nacht
On the night before the bris, there is a beautiful custom for the father to stay awake reciting special passages of Torah and Tehillim, safeguarding the baby before the mitzvah. Small children are often invited to say Shema at the baby's bedside, along with the passage of HaMalach HaGoel.
A complete Vach Nacht guide, with everything that is said, is available on the Resources page.
Choosing the honors
Before the bris, you will want to decide whom to honor as kvatter, sandek, and the other roles of the ceremony. The Ceremony page explains each honor, and the Bris Binder includes a fill-in honors sheet to bring with you.
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.