A Guide to Jewish Practice: Welcoming Children

by Hirsh, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780938945130
• ISBN10: 0938945130
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-05-31
• Publisher: Wayne State Univ Pr

Summary

Welcoming Children provides teachings, insights, traditions, rituals and commentaries that can help create a meaningful Jewish context for the arrival of children. It includes extended discussions of how adoptive as well as interfaith families can find rich resources in Judaism and provides a thorough yet accessible guide to one of life's most meaningful moments. A supplementary section includes innovative blessings, prayers and rituals for parents.

Table of Contents

Commentators and Advisory Committee	p. vii
Preface	p. ix
Introduction	p. 3
Prologue: "Identity," "Status" and "Descent"	p. 6
Welcoming Children	p. 10
The Concept of Covenant	p. 14
P'RU UR'VU: Procreation as a Primary Value	p. 16
Conception, Pregnancy, Childbirth and Weaning	p. 21
Circumcision	p. 25
Brit Mila: The Covenant of Circumcision	p. 25
Hospital Circumcision	p. 32
Questioning Circumcision	p. 35
Covenantal Ceremonies for Girls	p. 39
Issues of Gender, Exclusion and Inclusion	p. 39
Rituals of Welcoming and Naming	p. 42
Naming	p. 44
Naming and Identity	p. 44
Choosing a Name	p. 46
Names of the Parent/s	p. 49
Naming When One Parent is Not Jewish	p. 50
Adoption	p. 52
Adoption in Jewish Tradition	p. 52
Adoption and Conversion	p. 54
Differences of Opinion	p. 55
Adoption and Naming	p. 59
Pidyon Haben: Redemption of the Firstborn Son	p. 60
Conclusion	p. 63
For Further Reading	p. 65
Prayers and Blessings	p. 67
Biographies of the Contributors	p. 71
Index	p. 73
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