We
celebrate the birth of a child - or an adoption into one's family -
with a joyful naming ceremony that treats baby boys and girls
equally. We include lovely readings, a parent(s)' pledge, and the
naming itself, which explains the origins of the name and our hopes for
the newborn child.
There are many traditions associated with
the birth of a child that we, as cultural Jews, feel free to adopt,
adapt or discard altogether. While some make links to the past by
naming after a relative, others have freely chosen names without such
connections. While it is traditional for the naming to be conducted on
the eighth day after birth we are not bound by that timetable.
Also, in
Humanistic Judaism, circumcision is not a requirement for Jewish
identity; some parents preserve this practice while others do not. For
those who do, this procedure is generally conducted in the hospital and
is followed later on by a separate and beautiful naming ceremony.
As
a community, we love to celebrate baby namings in the context of our
Shabbat celebrations. Arrangements can also be made to hold these
events at home or a local restaurant.
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For more information, contact Rabbi Peter Schweitzer, New York City's only Humanistic rabbi.Call 212-213-1002 or email rabbipeter@earthlink.net.
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