Kvatterin (colloquially-Godmother)

Kvatter (colloquially- Godfather)

The Kvatterin and Kvatter are commonly a couple seeking to have a
child, as it's said that since they are involved in bringing this infant to
his bris, they, too will be blessed with children.

1. Calling the Kvatterin:

The Mohel (who performs the Jewish circumcision) wrapped in a tallit
calls in the Kvatter to the sanctuary.

The Kvatterin passes the infant from mother to the kvatter. The kvatter
brings the infant into the sanctuary to begin the ceremony.

When the infant is brought into the room, everyone stands and greets
him with the words "Baruch Haba" - "Blessed is the one arriving"...

Blessed is the one arriving!

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Pinchas, the son of Elazar, the
son of Aaron the Kohen, has turned My wrath away from the
children of Israel when he displayed anger among them in My
behalf, so that I did not wipe out the children of Israel in My
anger. Therefore say: I grant him My covenant of peace:

2. Kisay Shel Eliyahu:

The person who will place the baby on The Chair of Elijah. The Kvatter
passes the infant to the person who will place the baby on The Chair of
Elijah.
Elijah the prophet comes to every Jewish Bris, there are two primary
reasons for this.

1. Elijah was a champion for the mitzvah of Bris in his day, he was
given the privilege to share in every Bris.

2. Elijah will herald the messianic era.Since each child has the potential
to help bring the Messiah, Elijah comes to greet the child who can help
him bring the messianic era to all mankind.

Once the child is placed on the chair, the Mohel recites the following...

This is the Seat of Elijah the Prophet, may he be remembered for

good.
For Your deliverance I hope, O Lord. I have hoped for Your
deliverance, Lord,
 and I have performed Your commandments. Elijah, angel of the
Covenant, here is yours before you; stand at my right and
support me. I rejoice in Your word, like one who finds great spoil.
Those who love Your Torah have abounding peace, and there is
no stumbling for them. Happy is the man You choose and bring
near to dwell in Your courtyards; we will be satiated with the
goodness of Your House, Your Holy Temple:

3. Sandak
Wrapped in a tallit is usually the father, a grandfather, a very close
friend or a very respected Torah scholar.

Someone then takes the baby from the Chair of Elijah, and puts the
baby into the lap of the Sandak. The Sandak sits on a nearby chair. The
ceremony will be done on the Sandak's lap.

The mohel asks the father if he may act as the father's proxy for this
special commandment of circumcision (the father has the right to
perform the circumcision himself. Usually, the father appoints the
mohel as his proxy, since it requires many details).

The Mohel then recites the following blessing...

Praised are You, Adonai our God, who rules the universe, whose
mitzvot add holiness to our lives and who gave us the mitzvah of
circumcision. (Amen - All)
Here the Mohel circumcises the baby. There are several steps to
the act of circumcision: cutting of the foreskin, moving aside the
remaining skin (p'riah) and squeezing blood (metzizah, usually
with a sterile narrow tube). Usually the baby will cry briefly but
quiet down almost immediately. The mohel soothes the baby
either by offering him either a finger to suck on, a pacifier, or a
bit of wine.

4. Father’s Blessing
Immediately after the circumcision is performed the father recites the
following blessing...

Praised are You, Adonai our God, who rules the universe, whose
mitzvot add holiness to our lives and who gave us the mitzvah to
bring our son into the covenant of Abraham our father and Sarah
our mother.
5. All respond loudley...

Amen! - Just as he has entered into the Covenant, so may he

enter into Torah, into marriage, and into good deeds:

6. Completing of Bris
The Mohel completes the Bris and the infant is taken from the Sandek's
lap and given to the Sandek standing.

7. Mohel’s Blessing
The Mohel or a guests that you wish to honor takes the cup of wine in
his right hand and recites the following blessing...

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates
the fruit of the vine: (Amen - All)

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who
sanctified the beloved one from the womb, set His statute in his
flesh, and sealed his descendants with the sign of the holy
Covenant. Therefore, as a reward of this (circumcision), the
living God, our Portion, our Rock, has ordained that the beloved
of our flesh be saved from the abyss, for the sake of the
Covenant which He has set in our flesh. Blessed are You Lord,
who makes the Covenant (Amen - All)

8. Sadek Shane - Baby naming

The person honored with the giving of the name recites the following...
Our God and God of our fathers, preserve this child for his father and
mother, and his name in Israel shall be called (baby's Hebrew name)
the son of (baby's father's Hebrew name) May the father rejoice in his
offspring, and his mother be glad with the fruit of her womb, as it is
written: "May your father and mother rejoice, and she who bore you be
glad." And it is said: "I passed by you and saw you weltering in your
blood, and I said to you: You shall live through your blood; and I said to
you: 'You shall live through your blood.'" And it is said: "He has
remembered His Covenant forever, the word which He has
commanded to a thousand generations; the Covenant which He made
with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac; He established it for Jacob as a
statute, for Israel as an everlasting Covenant." And it is said: "Abraham
circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had
commanded him." Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His
kindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
May this little infant (baby's Hebrew name) the son of (baby's father's
Hebrew name) become great. Just as he has entered the Covenant, so
may he enter into Torah, into marriage, and into good deeds.

After naming the child, the person who recited the blessings drinks
some wine.

9. The Mohel blesses the infant...

May He who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and
Aaron, David and Solomon, bless this tender infant (baby's Hebrew
name) and send him a complete recovery, because he has enter the
covenant , just as he entered the covenant, so may he entered into
Torah, to marriage canopy, and to good deeds; and let us say, Amen

10. Now the Mohel and father recite the following prayer:

Sovereign of the universe, may it be Your will that this

(circumcision) be regarded and accepted by You as if l had
offered him before the Throne of Your Glory. And You, in Your
abounding mercy, send through Your holy angels a holy and pure
soul to
Father says:
(baby's Hebrew name) my son

Mohel Says:
(baby's father's Hebrew name)
the son of (baby's Hebrew name)

who has now been circumcised for the sake of Your great Name.
May his heart be open as the portal of the Great Hall in the
Temple in Your holy Torah, to learn and to teach, to observe and
to practice; grant him long life, a life imbued with the fear of sin,
a life of wealth and honor; and fulfill the desires of his heart for
good. Amen, and so may it be Your will.

11. The kvatter takes the infant from the sandak and hands
him to the kvatterin, who hands him back to the mother.

Everyone present is always invited to a festive meal which now takes

place.