Introduction
Our organizational ability comes to fruition especially towards the Brit Milah ceremony. Unlike other joys which we can organize well in advance, the Brit Milah has exactly eight days of preparation. We will be able to organize most things only from the moment of birth – which we almost never know exactly when it will happen. And all this in addition to the excitement and dealing with the new baby and the recovery of the birth-giver…
In order for the preparations to indeed be good and easier, we have done a lot of the work for you. We have combined halachic explanations and instructions with practical guidance.
The Meaning of the Covenant
Two friends who weave special close relationships will seek something that will sustain their closeness without the ability to change and transform even in less beautiful moments of life. For this purpose, they form a covenant – meaning a strong agreement regarding the bond between them – without any dependence on any changing factor.
The ‘friends’ are God and us. When a new baby is born to us, we form a covenant between him and God, a covenant that will not change, in any situation and at any age. After all, a Jew will always remain a Jew…
The Night before the Covenant
The night before the covenant is called ‘Brit Yitzhak’ or ‘Night of Vigil’, and it appears in the holy books that on this night negative spiritual forces, who do not want the baby to enter into a covenant with God, try to harm him and prevent him from performing the important commandment of circumcision. To acquire a weapon? No need. The shield against them is Torah study.
On this night, the father of the son should stay awake (at least until midnight) and study Torah and Zohar passages that have the power to protect the baby from these harmful beings. Throughout the night, the father’s relatives and friends come and study together passages from the Bible, the Talmud, and the Zohar that deal with the subject of circumcision – this is called spiritual vigilance, even if the house is protected and guarded, the study passages should be learned.
This is also the reason why when the circumcision takes place on the Sabbath, there is no need for this spiritual vigilance on the night of the covenant, as the sanctity of the day, the Sabbath holiness, “does the work” and guards the baby.
To recite the study and Zohar sections, click here
The Day of the Covenant
The day of the covenant is a day of celebration and joy for the family and they should thank God for granting them the fulfillment of such an important commandment – the entrance of the son into the covenant. Therefore, on the day of the covenant, festive clothing should be worn.
