How to Write a Circumcision Invitation

All Jewish baby boys are circumcised in a holy ceremony called a Bris. This ceremony is usually planned within the first few weeks after the baby is born. When you have a Bris for your baby boy, you'll be inviting all of your closest friends and relatives. Making an invitation for the Bris will include the name of the mohel and rabbi who will be performing the ceremony, the name of your baby and the location of the Bris--which traditionally takes place at your home. Finding some elegant stationery is an added bonus, and using a photo of the newborn mounted on the card is a nice touch.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide what time and date you'd like to have your Bris. First check with the mohel you plan to use and see when his schedule is open.

2. Mount a photo of the newborn on some substantial stationery. Purchase card stock that has inserts for photos.

3. Write the invitation using a celebratory tone. Some sample wording may be: "Please join us to celebrate the Bris of our beloved new son, Jacob Ethan, at our home, [address], on Saturday, June 22nd, 2010, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The ceremony will be led by mohel [name] and officiated by Rabbi [name]. Light refreshments to follow the ceremony."

4. Below the invitational prose, have your names and the names of your other children imprinted to make it complete, for example: "Gordon, Lois, big brother Nathan and big sister Vivian." Include your telephone number beneath the family names, along with a "Kindly RSVP by June 18th," for example, if a specific knowledge of attendance is desired.

5. Arrange for professional printing, or use a nice, rich pen and ink and handwrite the invitations.

[craftmaven]

on 7/2/2009 Personally, I have never seen a bris invitation, although I can only speak for my small corner of the world. A bris generally takes place only 8 days after the baby is born, not weeks later (unless the baby is ill) so that in and of itself limits the invitation options. Also, it is not considered appropriate to ask for an RSVP since a BRis is considered a Mitzvah ("good deed") and putting someone in a position where they might have to say no is not considered nice or good for their soul. After giving birth, I don't know anyone who is sitting down to hand write or even mail out an invitation - planning the event is generally more than enough work, and often it all falls on the husband or grandparents who are definitely not hand-writing inviations. Send an e-mail or have someone make calls for you - totally acceptable, and check with your Rabbi or Mohel for the appropriate text for t...