Bris ???

[momrek06]

When DS was born, my doc came in the next day and said it was time for his circumcision.....I said "I'm going with you" He tried to talk me out of it.....we walked down the long hallway and I was getting more and more apprehensive, but the time we got to his circumcision room it was like he was reading my mind...and said "you will not be a bad mother if you leave him with me" I said OK. I stood outside the door and cried my eyes out at his screaming.

Cindy's Mom: After both our son's were born (different states) DH told each MD that "when you plan to do the circumcision I want to be there, please schedule around my schedule"!! Our MD told DH the night before he was going to do it and DH was right there IN PERSON watching the entire procedure. I had c-sections for both DS' so I was back in the room. I could NEVER have been there to witness that on my new baby boys...NO WAY...but I did know it needed to be done. I waited anxiously and when they came to the room I asked DH how it went...he totally played it down until they were much older before he said how much each little fella screamed. NOT FUN!

 

[MushyMushy]

TOV I cannot understand why you don't have at least a rudimentary knowledge of this practice which is as old as religion itself. Surely you have read about it in modern day literature. In any event, it is a very solemn and meaningful ceremony to Jews and certainly not anything to be made fun of. I don't think you are an anti-semite. I just think you are seriously lacking knowledge.

I consider myself pretty well-read and educated, but I've never heard of Bris either.

We don't have a big Jewish population where I live, but even so, if Bris is so important, I'm surprised I haven't heard of it up until now.

 

[akhenaten]

I consider myself pretty well-read and educated, but I've never heard of Bris either.

We don't have a big Jewish population where I live, but even so, if Bris is so important, I'm surprised I haven't heard of it up until now.

It is sad how little we all know of the rituals of other faiths.......

I just took a religions of the world class this summer and it was fantastic.... but even in this class we only scratched the surface of the worlds religions....we hardly learned about any rituals.....

I am Catholic...and I don't know how but I learned a lot about Judaism as a child.....though I learned a lot more when my Neice converted.....

 

[momrek06]

I consider myself pretty well-read and educated, but I've never heard of Bris either.

We don't have a big Jewish population where I live, but even so, if Bris is so important, I'm surprised I haven't heard of it up until now.

Both my DS' attended Catholic schools and are now attending a Catholic University here in the Northeast and I will say they have been taught quite a bit over the years of all the different religions this world encompasses. When they were in Catholic elementary and high school they would have a Seder (the Feast), discuss in length Passover and talk of Hanukkah. I must say I was quite impressed with the schools decision to EDUCATE our kids so despite the fact they were attending a Catholic school, they would have the respect and knowledge of other religions.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Both my DS' attended Catholic schools and are now attending a Catholic University here in the Northeast and I will say they have been taught quite a bit over the years of all the different religions this world encompasses. When they were in Catholic elementary and high school they would have a Seder (the Feast), discuss in length Passover and talk of Hanukkah. I must say I was quite impressed with the schools decision to EDUCATE our kids so despite the fact they were attending a Catholic school, they would have the respect and knowledge of other religions.

I am Catholic and I knew what a Bris was. I believe to fully understand Christianity one must learn about Judism. I watched a show the other night on the Exodus. The man made a compelling case that the Exodus occurred in 1500 BCE and had historical facts that backed it up. I believe to fully understand Christianity I need to understand Jewish history.

 

[chyam]

TOV I cannot understand why you don't have at least a rudimentary knowledge of this practice which is as old as religion itself. Surely you have read about it in modern day literature. In any event, it is a very solemn and meaningful ceremony to Jews and certainly not anything to be made fun of. I don't think you are an anti-semite. I just think you are seriously lacking knowledge.

Sorry...........but I too did not know even what a bris was, and had no rudimentary knowledge of the practice whatsoever, I guess if you grow up in a community (small midwestern town) and are not around alot of different cultures you are kinda sheltered in other peoples customs, I don't think TOV was being rude, they like me opened this thread to see what bris was. I had no clue that it was even a religious and soemn ceremony. So I learned something today......

 

[mickeyfan2]

Sorry...........but I too did not know even what a bris was, and had no rudimentary knowledge of the practice whatsoever, I guess if you grow up in a community (small midwestern town) and are not around alot of different cultures you are kinda sheltered in other peoples customs, I don't think TOV was being rude, they like me opened this thread to see what bris was. I had no clue that it was even a religious and soemn ceremony. So I learned something today......

I understand that, but you then did not make a rude "C" party joke either.

 

[Beth76]

I understand that, but you then did not make a rude "C" party joke either.

Is circumcision a bad word now? And it's true, isn't it? A bris is a circumscision party, is it not? There's a party and a baby is circ'd.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Quick question:

I have only ever see this word in print, although familiar with the ceremony and its religious implication. How does one pronounce it?

 

[Kendra17]

Is circumcision a bad word now? And it's true, isn't it? A bris is a circumscision party, is it not? There's a party and a baby is circ'd.

Yes, it is kind of true. It IS a religious ceremony FIRST. And, I didn't mention this before, but the baby is also given his Hebrew Name at that time, so it's also a naming ceremony-- if he has an English name AND a Hebrew name (as mine do).

But, yes, it is kind of a party. . . not a wild all-out kind of party, but a celebratory occasion. And, yes, food might be served afterwards, and wine. And, people stay and talk. I have never danced at a bris, but who knows?

It is a religious ceremony, but it's not solemn like in a church. . . it's a celebration, and in a way it's pretty informal. Our mohel (the religious man who does the circumcision) thought he was a stand-up comedian, so it was kind of light and fun (except for THAT part).

 

[mickeyfan2]

And it's true, isn't it? A bris is a circumscision party, is it not? There's a party and a baby is circ'd.

Is a Baptism a dunking party?

 

[Kendra17]

Both my DS' attended Catholic schools and are now attending a Catholic University here in the Northeast and I will say they have been taught quite a bit over the years of all the different religions this world encompasses. When they were in Catholic elementary and high school they would have a Seder (the Feast), discuss in length Passover and talk of Hanukkah. I must say I was quite impressed with the schools decision to EDUCATE our kids so despite the fact they were attending a Catholic school, they would have the respect and knowledge of other religions.

I have met a lot of Catholics and Christians who have had seders and other Jewish religious ceremonies in their church. They ARE different. They really are, but I completely appreciate the fact that your church does these.

One friend of mine was telling me about her seder at her church. And, it had a lot of Christian/Catholic references. You have to remember (no condescension meant-- sorry if it sounds like there is) that when these ceremonies occured, there were NO references of Jesus or anything Christian, because there was no Christianity at that time. Often, the churches change the actual ceremony and make it a bit more Christian-themed. At least that's what I've heard from people I know who have attended these kinds of events.

 

[Galahad]

I have met a lot of Catholics and Christians who have had seders and other Jewish religious ceremonies in their church.

FWIW, I don't think it's entirely appropriate to draw a "distention" between Catholics and Christians. Catholics are Christians. Carry on......

BTW, our Methodist congregation has had seders.

 

[Kendra17]

FWIW, I don't think it's entirely appropriate to draw a "distention" between Catholics and Christians. Catholics are Christians. Carry on......

BTW, our Methodist congregation has had seders.

Offense not intended. . . When I HAVEN'T distinguished this, I've been corrected. . . .so now I try to distinguish this. Catch 22?

I grew up thinking that Catholics are Christians. I can't tell you how many times people have corrected me about this.

I'm sorry!

 

[mickeyfan2]

FWIW, I don't think it's entirely appropriate to draw a "distention" between Catholics and Christians. Catholics are Christians. Carry on......

I agree. I am Catholic, but I have had other Christians tell me I am not a Christian.

 

[lowie]

Quick question:

I have only ever see this word in print, although familiar with the ceremony and its religious implication. How does one pronounce it?

it's pronounced 'briss' rhymes with 'hiss, the sound a snake makes'

against my better judgement i had my son circ'd in a traditional jewish bris. both my dh and i are jewish but neither are practicing our religion. he felt very strongly that it should be done so i gave in.

we had an ob/gyn do the actual procedure in my in-laws house. traditionally only men should be present with the mohel, but i didn't want some shaky old dude cutting up my sons *****. i did give very specific instructions to the (woman) doctor that went something like, 'i want you to barely cut him, even a scratch will suffice. if you cut too much off i'll hunt you down and hurt you'

she was unimpressed!

i forced my sister (ds godmother) to go with him and make sure he was ok, while i say outside crying my eyes out.

so anyway, to answer the OP, i say the kids would be fine going, but not watching. have them sit far back or in another room.

and yes, some folks throw parties after the bris, usually involving bagels. and a gift would be welcome.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I have to say that I am amazed at the lack of knowledge about the different religions in our country. When I attended CCD, one year we took trips to a temple and other churches. It was one of the best experiences in my life. And while I am no longer a member of the Catholic Church, I am ever so grateful for that experience. It planted the seed to learn about different religions, demoninations and faiths.

I think it's important that we learn the customs of other religions since we do all interact with each other. It's amazing how many times in business settings these things do come into play (with regard to food choices, manner of speaking, etc.).

 

[clori]

I'm not very religious but I wanted to explain one thing about the naming ceremony. A boy receives his Hebrew name at a bris and a girl might have a naming ceremony (no circumcision involved) during a temple service in which is officially receives a Hebrew name. The child is named after a beloved deceased person sometimes someone who died a long time ago or sometimes someone who died recently. The naming ceremony part can be bittersweet. For instance my mil died about two years before I had my youngest dd. At dd's naming ceremony great grandmother was there. While it was an honor to have her great grandchild named after her daughter it was very sad to watch the tears coming down from great gram as well as dh, dh's brother, and fil. We all would have much rather mil be there celebrating with us. While I think of a bris as a happy religious ceremony it isn't necessarily a happy time for all involved. I just wanted to explain a bit more.

 

[minnieandme]

So, on the eighth day, we have a bris which is celebratory in the sense that we are confirming his/our covenant with God. We are also welcoming the little boy into Judaism.

What happens if the child is born prematurely and has to stay in the hospital for a few weeks or a few months?

 

[Kendra17]

What happens if the child is born prematurely and has to stay in the hospital for a few weeks or a few months?

The health of the baby is always more important. ALWAYS. So, in that case, it would have to wait. Nobody would do it when the baby's life/health was in jeopardy.