My sister and I went to Tevi's Brit Shalom today. Yeah Tevi! I was nervous about driving 6.5 hours in one day (Portland and back), but my sister did all the driving and we didn't have much traffic. (See Sandy and Chama, that's really why you had the party on a Sunday.)

Tevi is my first cousin once removed, and a Brit Shalom (as I learned from wikipedia) is a Jewish baby naming ceremony for a boy if you are choosing not to circumcise. Most of my Jewish friends of sons either circumcise with the attendant hoopla (David's ceremony was fabulous) or forgo any welcoming ceremony. I'm glad this ritual has been created.

Here are some quotes from the ceremony:

As he was protected during birth, may he be protected through all of life's many passages.

Sandy: And may all the gentle hands that touched me as I labored know the blessing of their work. As my body was blessed with a profound experience of creation on that day, may I always remember myself so: A being in which miracles are daily made, a vessel that nourishes holiness and offers it to the world.

Chama: With each child the world begins anew. With this ceremony, your Ima and I formally welcome you to our world and our family. As we name you today, our sweet son, we undertake our responsibilities to take you forward into the world as we know it, to love you, to guide you, to educate you, and to cherish you. You are whole, complete, and perfect. We promise you, before our family gathered here today in your honor, to do our very best for you each and every day hereafter.


What I like about sacred space is that it is, in fact, sacred. It is time set aside to think about what really matters, and, if you are lucky, say it profoundly and beautifully. That is what I got to do today.