Brit Milah and Bat Chayil

Question 1

What Brit Milah? Where and when is it done

Answer 1

Brit Milah is a circumcision ceremony of the boy child. It is done in a synagogue, the baby’s home or a hospital and it takes place 8 days after the baby’s born

Question 2

Who is present at the Brit milah ceremony

Answer 2

The baby’s parents, a rabbi, mohel and sandek

Question 3

How is Brit Milah Observed

Answer 3

• the baby is taken by a chosen woman e.g Godmother on a cushion to the room where the circumcision will take place
• the baby is passed on to the mohel who will carry out the circumcision act
• the baby is placed on Elijah’s chair
• then placed on the knee of the Sandek e.g grandfather
• the mohel performs the circumcision
• the father recites blessings over his child
• the men present respond saying the baby will be able to study the Torah and will have a wonderful/blessed marriage and good deeds
• kiddush is taken and the baby receives a few drops of wine
• the rabbi or mohel blesses the baby
• the naming ceremony takes place afterwards

Question 4

what are the importances of Brit milah

Answer 4

• it marks the baby’s Jewish identity and it also marks the beginning of a new life
• it is a sign of the covenant of God with his people(Abraham) and a sign in the flesh of the relationship God has with the Jews
• the father blesses his son
• it is command given to the Jews through Abraham and it is being obeyed
• the child is religiously ready to enter into membership with God’s chosen people

Question 5

what does Bat chayil mean

Answer 5

daughter of valor

Question 6

when and where does Bat chayil take place

Answer 6

-it takes place in the synagogue after bat mitzvah

Question 7

How is Bat chayil observed

Answer 7

• it is a course that is offered to Jewish girls after becoming a bat mitzvah followed by a ceremony
• a group of girls aged 13 will be taught about their faith including their roles in Shabbat and festivals, keeping a Jewish home, learning about Jewish history and learning prayers and blessings
• a ceremony is done at the synagogue to celebrate/acknowledge the success of the girls’ learning
• during the ceremony the girls will recite readings from the Torah which they would’ve learnt

Question 8

what are the importances of Bat chayil

Answer 8

• it unites girls within the Jewish community and they learn about their roles during Shabbat and other festivals
• girls learn how to value themselves and represent themselves within a Jewish community
• it highlights the importance of continuing Jewish education after bat mitzvah