2 Ashkenazi rituals

In traditional Ashkenazi Judaism, the father is called to the Torah either at the next time it is read in sysnagogue or, for some, on the first Shabbat after the daughter is born, and the name of the daughter is announced which is observed by all groups within Haredi Judaism and Hasidic Jews. Some form private or communal celebration, known as a kiddush ("sanctification") is then held for family and friends either at home or at the synagogue. It is considered an important gesture that many believe will enhance the future mazel ("good fortune") of the newly-named baby girl. People wish the parents: "Tizku legadlah LeTorah (UleBen Torah) LeChupah UleMa'asim Tovim" ("May you merit to raise her to grow up to [be a one of] Torah ([and to marry a] son of Torah), to [become] Married and to [practice] Good Deeds [the Mitzvot").

2.1 Recent innovations

In recent years many Ashkenazi Jews have developed a ceremony for girls which is now known as the Simchat Bat (Celebration for the daughter) or Brit Bat (loosely, welcoming the new daughter into the covenant.) While still evolving, this ceremony has gained acceptance in Jewish communities of all denominations. Different forms of this ceremony exist in Modern Orthodox JudaismModern Orthodox Judaism is a philosophy that attempts to adapt Orthodox Judaism and interaction with the surrounding gentile, modern world. Modern Orthodoxy stresses that if guided by Jewish values, this interaction is in fact desirable and intellectually, Conservative JudaismConservative Judaism (or Masorti Judaism is a denomination of Judaism characterized by: A positive attitude toward modern culture The belief that traditional rabbinic modes of study, and modern scholarship and critical text study, are both valid ways to l, and Reform JudaismReform Judaism (also known as Progressive Judaism while in the U. Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism together make up Progressive Judaism) is a branch of Judaism characterized by: The belief that an individual's personal autonomy overrides traditional Jew. This newer ceremony is rejected by Haredi Judaism.

The celebration typically consists of a communal welcoming, a naming done over a cup of wine with the quotation of appropriate biblical verses, and traditional blessings. Jews do not perform female circumcision, but the ritual that takes place is considered to have an equivalent meaning.

2.2 Conservative Judaism

"Moreh Derekh", the Rabbi's manual of the Conservative Judaism movement's Rabbinical Assembly, presents a ceremony based on traditional Jewish forms, with a number of options that parents may choose to perform: (A) Lighting seven candles (symbolizing the seven days of creation) and holding the baby towards them, (B) Wrapping the baby in the four corners of a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl), or (C) Lifting the baby and touching her hands to a Torah scroll.

3 Reading list

3.1 Zeved habat

• Herbert C. Dobrinsky: A treasury of Sephardic laws and customs : the ritual practices of Syrian, Moroccan, Judeo-Spanish and Spanish and Portuguese Jews of North America. Revised edition. Hoboken, NJ (Ktav); New York, NY (Yeshiva Univ. Press), 1988. (Pages 3-29.)
• Book of prayer of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation, London. Volume One: Daily and occasional prayers. Oxford (Oxford Univ. Press, Vivian Ridler), 5725 - 1965. (Page 180.)

3.2 Ashkenazi customs

• "Namegiving", in A guide to Jewish religious practice, by Isaac Klein. New York (JTS), 1979. (Page 429.)
• "Berit Benot Yisrael", in Ḥadesh Yameinu = Renew our days : a book of Jewish prayer and meditation, edited and translated by Rabbi Ronald Aigen. Montreal (Cong. Dorshei Emet), 1996. (Pages 228-233.)

Milestones in the Jewish Life Cycle
Birth: Brit milah | Zeved habat (Simchat Bat) | Hebrew name | Wimpel | Redemption of First-born Teenage: Bar/Bat mitzvah Adult: Ablution in Judaism | Prayers and blessings Marriage: Matchmaking | Jewish view of marriage | Role of women in Judaism | Niddah | Mikvah | Tzeniut Cultural: Aliyah | Torah study Items of religious significance worn at various times: Tzitzit | Tallit | Tefillin | Yarmulke-Kippa Death: Chevera Kaddisha | Shiv'ah | Kaddish | Yahrzeit

Jewish law and rituals

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