George Gelberman, given
the honor of "sandek,"
holds his grandson dur-
ing the baby's "brit mila."

earliest opportunity.
Candles are customarily
lit, symbolizing light and joy, and various
kibbudim (honors) are assigned. Most of them
involve who gets to hold the baby during
various parts of the ceremony.
The baby is placed on a pillow (often
beautifully decorated), and brought in by the
kavaterin, or godparents.
Another honoree receives the baby and
places him on a special chair, which is often
decorated with beautiful linens and flowers.
This is the kisay shel Eliyahu, the Throne of
Elijah the Prophet, who is a spiritual witness to
every brit mila. At the Gelberman brit, the
honor went to the baby's great-grandfather
Sam Bakunow of Oak Park.
The baby is then taken by his father and
placed on the lap of the sandek, the most
highly honored person at the brit. That person
will hold the baby during the actual ritual
circumcision. Ari Gelberman's father, George
Gelberman of Southfield, was their sandek.
Ideally, the child's father should perform the
brit mila but in most cases, a mohel is
appointed as the father's agent to carry out the
mitzvah. As is customary, Gelberman handed
the izmail, the double-edged circumcision
knife, to Rabbi Cohen as a symbol of
transferring the obligation. After a blessing, the
mohel performed the mila.
After completion, the boy's father will recite
a blessing welcoming the child into Abraham's
covenant. Those assembled respond "Amen,
and then proclaim, in Hebrew, that, just as the
baby was entered into the covenant of the brit,
so, too, should he enter Torah study, chuppa
(marriage) and good deeds.
The baby is handed to another honoree and
a blessing is made over wine, followed by a
blessing that expresses hope for a life of
holiness for the child.
Blessings are then recited that announce the
baby's name. The maternal grandfather,

Hershell Tkatch of Kansas City, Mo., held the
child as he received the name David
Gelberman, given in memory of one of his
paternal great-grandfathers.
After the naming, participants may drink
from the wine cup, including the mother, and
even the baby gets a drop.
The ceremony concludes with more
blessings by the mohel and father, expressing
hopes for the baby's Jewish future.
Following the service, a seudat mitzvah
(festive meal) is held for the assembled guests,
during which, words of Torah are imparted

and blessings for the baby and his family are
expressed.
The Gelbermans were beyond happiness on
the day of their son's brit mila. "I had every
emotion," recalls Aviva Gelberman. "Excited,
nervous — on a high all day. We waited for
this for so long. It was so special!"
"I really feel part of the chain," says Ari
Gelberman. "This was our first Jewish
responsibility to our child, the first mitzvah for
the next generation."

Susan Tawil is a freelance writer
from Oak Park.

When a Jewish baby boy is born, brit mila (circumcision) is performed on the
eighth day of his life, as commanded by God in the covenant with Abraham.
Orthodox Jews follow these traditional customs:

• A shalom zachar (open house) is held on the first Friday night following the
baby's birth to welcome him.

• The evening before the brit, known as yacht nacht, men study Torah in the
house to protect the baby, and children gather around the baby's crib to recite
bedtime prayers.

• The brit mila is performed in the synagogue or home at the conclusion of
the Shacharit (morning prayer service).

• The baby is brought in on a pillow by kavaterin (godparents) and placed on
a special chair, known as the Throne of Elijah.

• The boy is then lifted by the father and given to the sandek (the most highly
honored person at the brit). The sandek holds the baby while the mohel (ritual
circumciser) performs the rite.

• Following, an honoree says the blessing for wine.

• The boy's name is given.

• The wine cup is passed to drink, with a drop of wine for the baby.

• A seudat mitzvah (festive meal) is served.

n • sourcebook 2000 •

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