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Here is a list of honorees and items I suggest when I perform a Brit milah:
HONOREES INCLUDE:
- SANDAK - often a grandfather, the person who holds the baby for the circumcision. If there are two grandfathers they may share this honor, or one may hold the baby for the circumcision, and the other for the baby naming. This person must be Jewish.
- KVATTERIN - a woman given the honor of bringing the baby into the room.
- KVATER - a man who takes the baby from the kvatterin and brings it to the sandak. (The kvater and kvatterin are often the baby's aunt(s) and uncle(s), cousins or good friends. There is a custom that if a couple is having difficulty conceiving, having this honor will enhance their fertility.)
- Grandmothers, great grandmothers or other women may light candles, except on Shabbat or Holy Days. You may consider presenting flowers instead.
- Someone, often a great grandfather, may hold the cup of wine for the baby naming. You may have more than one cup to be held.
- At the end of the ceremony, Hamotzi, the blessing over the bread, is said.
The baby should be fed and burped one hour before the actual start of the brit. START ABOUT ONE AND A HALF HOURS BEFORE. If he is still hungry, try to just give him a "nasch". He may wear a pull up gown, shirt top or an open "onesy". NO PANTS PLEASE.
ITEMS NEEDED FOR THE CEREMONY:
- Two chairs. Bar stools or director chairs are preferable. However, a regular chair with pillows will also be satisfactory.
- A table, large enough to hold the wine, kiddush cup, challah and other optional items. THE BABY DOES NOT LAY ON THIS TABLE.
- A table cloth (optional)
- Flowers (optional)
- Kiddush cup
- Kosher sweet red Concord grape wine (or grape juice)
- Pre-poured wine for guests in small cups (optional, and you may use white wine if you are afraid of staining the carpet)
- An UNCUT challah
- Any pictures or articles you may wish to display
- Consider kippot - Men in the ceremony may wear their tallit
ITEMS REQUIRED FOR POST-CIRCUMCISION CARE INCLUDE:
- Diapers and baby wipes
- Q-tips and cotton balls
- A large jar or tube of PLAIN (not scented or medicated) vaseline
- A small bottle of peroxide
- At the ceremony I will need a cloth diaper or burp cloth and a light-weight receiving blanket
IF THE BRIT IS NOT AT YOUR HOME, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BRING THE Q-TIPS, COTTON BALLS OR PEROXIDE. THESE ITEMS ARE FOR POST-OP CARE.
Parents, family members or friends are encouraged to prepare and write down some words about the people for whom the baby is being named. Who were they? Where did they live and what did they do? Perhaps a story and/or what traits or attributes did they have, which you hope your child will inherit. This will be read during the naming ceremony.
If the brit is going to be held at another home or facility, PLEASE ARRIVE AT LEAST ONE AND ONE-HALF HOURS BEFORE THE TIME OF THE BRIT. The baby does best if he is relaxed and is finished eaing about an hour before the circumcision.
All you need to bring with you for the baby are diapers, wipes, burp cloth, vaseline and a receiving blanket. Also, bring the items for the ceremony ( kiddush cup, wine, challah, candles, etc.).
If the ceremony is to be held at a synogogue, restaurant or hotel, please bring a bedroom pillow and a few throw pillows with you.