Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Part 1: Chai—Life
Conception
Pregnancy
Birth

Part 2: A Jewish Name
Naming
A Son! Boys' Names
A Daughter! Girls’ Names

Part 3: Brit—Covenant
Covenants
Brit Milah—The Covenant of Circumcision
Questions and Answers
History
Traditional Interpretations
Planning a Bris
Liturgy and Ritual
Adoption, Conversion, and Rituals for Already Circumcised Sons
Caring for the Newly Circumcised Baby
Two Ceremonies for Brit Milah
Brit Bat—Welcoming Our Daughters
History
Planning a Brit Bat
Elements of a Brit Bat Ceremony
Four Ceremonies for Brit Bat
Hiddur Mitzvah—Beautiful Touches
Ideas and Readings for Your Celebration

Part 4: Simcha—Joy
Simcha Means "Party"
Announcements
Celebrations and Customs

Part 5: The Changing Jewish Family
Interfaith Families
Adoption

Part 6: The First Year
Weaning

Appendix 1: What Non-Jews Should Know about Brit Milah—the Covenant of Circumcision
Appendix 2: What Non-Jews Should Know about Brit Bat—the Covenant for a Daughter
Resources for New Parents
Notes
Glossary
Directory of Artists
Index

About the Author

Anita Diamant is author of The Red Tent; The New Jewish Wedding; Bible Baby Names: Spiritual Choices from Judeo-Christian Sources; and The New Jewish Baby Book(Jewish Lights), among other books. She is a founder of Mayyim Hayyim, Living Waters Community Mikveh and the Paula J. Brody Family Education Center in Newton, Massachusetts.

Reviews

"I've never been religious, but during my pregnancy I had a lot of questions about Jewish traditions ... this book helped me make all the decisions."
—Robin Wolaner, founder, Parenting magazine

"Lovely.... Does a wonderful job of explaining aspects of traditional Jewish law—meaningful suggestions make tradition relevant to contemporary situations."
—American Library Association's Booklist



“Weaves together history, traditions, laws and practices, rituals and prayers to form a beautiful tapestry.... A wonderful resource.”
—Rabbi Joy Levitt (Reconstructionist), associate executive director of programming at the Manhattan JCC

“A book that all Jewish parents—no matter how religious—will find fascinating as well as useful. It is a perfect shower or new baby gift.”
—Pamela Abrams, executive editor, Parents magazine

“Skillfully teaches how traditional Jewish ritual enhances life’s most sacred moments and stimulates thinking about developing new practices that acknowledge the changing nature of the Jewish family and demonstrate sensitivity to issues of gender and adoption.”
—Rabbi William H. Lebeau (Conservative), vice chancellor, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America

“Gives all of us—experts and novices alike—the ability and confidence to begin our Jewish child rearing on a profound and sacred plane.”
—Cantor Benjie Ellen Shiller (Reform), professor of cantorial arts, HUC–JIR School of Sacred Music

While most of the conversation preceding the birth of a baby these days is focused on such physical things as diets and breathing exercises, the almost universal reaction by, and concern of, parents themselves is a sense of wonderment and awe. In this sometimes very parochial book, the author addresses the human need to plan for the spiritual aspects of childbirth. Diamant offers precise guidelines for celebrating initial and fundamental rites of passage. She devotes much space to Jewish names, both biblical and cultural in origin, and explains the religious traditions and/or significance involved in each. Of even greater import to Diamant, however, is the ceremony of the circumcision. Contrary to a belief widely held in recent times, she stresses, circumcision has no basis in health practices. It is, rather, a sanctification of the ancient convenant God made with Abraham. As a reflection of our ceremonies for girls, adoption and interfaith families. (Mar.)

"I've never been religious, but during my pregnancy I had a lot of questions about Jewish traditions ... this book helped me make all the decisions." -Robin Wolaner, founder, Parenting magazine "Lovely.... Does a wonderful job of explaining aspects of traditional Jewish law-meaningful suggestions make tradition relevant to contemporary situations." -American Library Association's Booklist "Weaves together history, traditions, laws and practices, rituals and prayers to form a beautiful tapestry.... A wonderful resource." -Rabbi Joy Levitt (Reconstructionist), associate executive director of programming at the Manhattan JCC "A book that all Jewish parents-no matter how religious-will find fascinating as well as useful. It is a perfect shower or new baby gift." -Pamela Abrams, executive editor, Parents magazine "Skillfully teaches how traditional Jewish ritual enhances life's most sacred moments and stimulates thinking about developing new practices that acknowledge the changing nature of the Jewish family and demonstrate sensitivity to issues of gender and adoption." -Rabbi William H. Lebeau (Conservative), vice chancellor, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America "Gives all of us-experts and novices alike-the ability and confidence to begin our Jewish child rearing on a profound and sacred plane." -Cantor Benjie Ellen Shiller (Reform), professor of cantorial arts, HUC-JIR School of Sacred Music