Jewish baby naming ceremonies are wonderful celebrations that mark the beginning of a baby’s life and the baby’s identity as a Jewish person. The ceremony itself is quite flexible! A typical ceremony includes a few songs, blessings, and readings. I encourage families to consider who they might want to honor during the ceremony, for instance, grandparents or aunts/uncles/siblings. These loved ones might recite a blessing or reading—either something I provide, or a favorite poem, song or reading that has personal meaning to the loved one. Some interfaith families choose this moment to also offer a reading from another tradition.
One of my favorite rituals to include in a baby naming is wrapping the baby in a tallit, or prayer shawl. The tallit symbolizes the mitzvot or commandments in Jewish tradition. It is worn during certain prayer services, and some people choose to use a tallit as part of their chuppah, or wedding canopy. Some families also have a tallit that has significance, such as one that a grandparent used, or from a parent’s bar/bat/b-mitzvah and wrapping the new baby is a connective act across generations.
A highlight of a Jewish baby naming is announcing the baby’s Hebrew name. After I announce the name, parents have the opportunity to explain the English and Hebrew names they chose for the baby and what the names represent. If the baby is named for a relative, typically parents share a few words about some of the relative’s qualities they hope the baby will embody.
Baby namings can take place anywhere; they are sometimes performed in a synagogue, but also in the family home, at a park, or anywhere you would like to gather!