How to Select Bris Party Favors

Welcoming a baby into the Jewish faith is a sacred and wonderful tradition that many Jewish couples celebrate. The bris is often followed by a joyful reception full of food and merriment. It is not considered typical or proper to give away party favors at a bris. However, there are some non-traditional choices parents can make if they want to send guests home with something special by which to remember the day.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Copies of the Torah
• Camera
• Tulle
• Food gifts
• Printer
• Candle holders
• Frames

Select Bris Party Favors

1. Consider making your own favors. Since the bris is performed on the eighth day of your child's life, consider taking a digital photo of each guest with the baby and printing them out on a home printer. Put the photo in a plain frame or one decorated with rattles or baby shoes. Create personalized frames with trinkets and glue at home.

2. Try wrapping up small candy or nut treats for each guest. You can't go wrong with food! Cut out small circles of tulle, place a few tasty items in the center and tie it into a satchel with a ribbon in a coordinating color.

3. Select a religious item to give to each guest. Since the bris is a sacred tradition, consider purchasing a small Torah for each guest as long as they all are Jewish. If you have guests of different faiths, consider buying them secular gifts instead.

4. Purchase a set of candle holders for each guests. Guests who are Jewish can use them in Shabbos ceremonies, while guests of other faiths can use them for decoration. Visit the Mazal Tov Pages Web site for examples of fine candlesticks (see Resources below).

5. Send thank you notes to everyone who came to your bris. While a thank you note isn't exactly a party favor, it is a way to acknowledge your friends' and families' presence at your blessed event. Include a few pieces of confetti inside with a picture of your child, as well as a personalized note.

Tips & Warnings

• Listen to your heart. Parents aren't expected to give party favors at a bris, so if you would prefer not to, it's more than OK.
• Do not select joke favors or naughty favors. A bris is a happy occasion, but the procedure done during the ceremony and its spiritual significance should not be made light of.