How to Make a Toast at a Bris Party

A bris ceremony is an important rite of passage for Jewish baby boys--but because this ritual involves circumcision, it can be socially awkward for people who aren't familiar with this tradition. If you plan on making a toast, you might not know what to comment on or whether congratulations are appropriate. Here's what you need to know before you make a toast at a bris party.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Congratulate the new parents and extended family on the baby's birth. A bris takes place 8 days after a Jewish baby is born, so wishing the new addition a healthy, happy and long life is certainly called for. It's also wonderful to mention your fondness for the little one and his parents--so talk about your relationship to the baby and how his arrival has impacted you.
2. Mention the importance of the tradition of the bris ceremony--if you feel comfortable discussing this. If this is your first bris and you're not familiar with this ancient Jewish ritual, keep the talk focused on the baby's birth without delving into the particulars of the bris. But if you understand the history behind the bris, you can explain why you're grateful this family has kept the tradition alive.
3. Joke tastefully about the circumcision procedure only if you feel this particular audience would warm up to this type of humor. If you're not familiar with your audience that well, pleasantries and platitudes that don't mention penises are a safe bet--but if you know you've got a salty group and have a few zingers under your sleeve, by all means, share.
4. Follow up any bris jokes with, "on a serious note" and then again touch upon the wonderful occasion of the baby's birth.
5. Poke fun of other people at the bris--as long as the people at the party are a close-knit group with a sense of humor, and your jokes don't mention the new mother's weight, which will not be funny 8 days after she's given birth. A bris is often a chance for family and close friends to get together, so if you're a member of this crowd, continue the Jewish tradition of humor--which is almost as significant as the Jewish tradition of the bris ceremony.
6. Feel free to limit the toast to "Let's all raise our glasses and toast the newest member of the Stein family!" if you aren't comfortable joking or discussing the particulars of the bris.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get too graphic about the circumcision itself. Even people who have been to many brises get squeamish about this topic.

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