Zach's Welcoming & Naming Ceremony
Participants
Zachary Belfer-Shevett
Catya Belfer-Shevett
Dave Belfer-Shevett
Scott Blake
Martha Shevett
Bob Shevett
Pat Belfer
Don Belfer
Brian Belfer
| Dave | (stands) B'ruchim haba-im. Blessed are all who have come here on this happy occasion (lights candle and hands to Pat to light other candles from) |
| Pat | (lights candles) These candles celebrate the birth of this child, a new light in our hearts and in this home. (Passes candle to Martha) |
| Martha | (lights candles) These candles celebrate the emergence of this child from the darkness of the womb into the light of the world. (Passes candle to Dave) |
| Dave | (lights candles) These candles celebrate the warmth of our love from which this child was created. |
| Catya | Hidden in birth and death, the roaring winds, and the gentle voices of our loved ones lies the harmony of existence. As we gather here in community, we make manifest the unity of the world that gave us all birth. Shema yisrael, adonai elohaynu, adonai echad. |
| Dave | Abraham stretched forth his hand and took a knife. And the angel of the Lord called to him and said "Abraham, Abraham!" And Abraham said, "Here I am." And the angel said, "Lay not your hand upon the lad or do anything to him." |
| Don | Baruch Habah! Blessed is the one who has come for the Covenant on the eight day. |
| Bob | Blessed is the Lord our God, creator of the universe, who has commanded us to welcome our sons into your covenant. |
| Dave | (points to the empty chair) This is the chair of Elijah the prophet, who is remembered as the protector of children. |
| Dave | (Takes Zach and sits in the chair) And the Lord said, "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh, nor imprint any marks upon you." |
| Catya | Blessed is the way of the universe, which makes children holy and beloved as their birthright. |
| Dave | This child, created in your image, is whole, complete, and perfect. (Brings baby back to Cat or Brian) |
| All | Let this baby be happy in the world, In the goodness of this home, In the holiness of this place. |
| All | As he enters into the Covenant, so may he enter Into Truth, Into Love, and into Happiness |
| Scott | (fills a cup with wine) This cup is the is the vessel of our hopes. It is filled with the new wine of a life just begun. The sweetness of its taste is the joy that this child brings us. |
| All | Baruch atah adonai elohaynu melech ah-olam, borai pre hagofen Blessed art thou, oh lord our god, kind of the universe, who created the fruit of the vine. |
| The cup is passed around the room, each person taking a sip | |
| Brian | Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable. |
| Dave | If anyone brought additional readings or would like to add anything, please do so. |
| Don | On this sixth day of the month of December, 1998, corresponding to the seventeenth day of Kislev, 5759, we give to this child the English name Zachary Jason Belfer-Shevett, and the Hebrew name Hershel ben David, in honor of his great-grandfather, my father. |
| Bob | On this day, we declare that we bring this child into the community of Israel, calling him "Jew". May this name we now bestow come to have ever greater meaning for him. May it resonate in the depths of his being, calling forth an enduring response. |
| Pat | May Zachary's life be one of security and trust |
| Martha | May Zachary's life shine with dignity and freedom |
| Catya | May we bring Zachary into the ways of the Torah, into the way of learning, into the way of growth. May he give and receive love, and may he be concerned with family and community, justice and healing. |
| Dave | May the Lord bless and keep our son. May he make his countenance shine upon him, and be gracious to him. |
| All | Baruch atah adonai, elohanu melech ha-olam, shehechinu, vkiyimanu, vhigiyanu baazman hazeh. Blessed art thou, oh lord our god, king of the universe, who has granted us life and sustained us and permitted us to reach this season. Amen. |
| Dave | Thank you all for joining us this evening, and thank you for your blessings on our son and on us. |