Bris & Jewish Baby Naming in Buffalo, NY
Welcoming a new baby into the Jewish people with joy and meaning. Rabbi Mendy Labkowski guides Buffalo families through the bris, the baby naming and the ceremony for a firstborn son.
The bris: an eternal covenant
The bris (Jewish circumcision) is one of the oldest and most cherished Jewish traditions, going back to Abraham, the first Jew. On the eighth day of a baby boy’s life, he is brought into the covenant between G‑d and the Jewish people and receives his Hebrew name.
The days after a birth are busy and emotional. Rabbi Labkowski helps make the bris calm and meaningful: explaining what to expect, helping you arrange the details, and leading the ceremony so your family can simply enjoy the celebration (simcha).
How Rabbi Labkowski helps
- Guidance from the moment your son is born — including calculating the correct day
- Arranging the details: timing, location, honors and the festive meal that follows (seudat mitzvah)
- Helping you choose a Hebrew name and explaining its meaning
- Leading the ceremony and the prayers, and announcing your son’s Hebrew name
- Explaining each part of the ceremony to your guests, so everyone feels included
Cost should never stand in the way
If paying for a bris is a concern, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Rabbi Labkowski and the Chabad Center for Jewish Life will arrange and sponsor the entire bris for your family — the location, the festive meal and a skilled, certified ritual circumciser (mohel) — from start to finish. Your conversation will be kept completely private.
Call or text 716-545-6806 →Talk it through with Rabbi Mendy
It’s completely natural for new parents to feel anxious about a bris. Set up a relaxed conversation with Rabbi Mendy, in person or by phone, to walk through what happens on the day, how your baby is cared for, and anything else on your mind — so you can go into the bris feeling calm and confident.
Set up a conversation →Honors at a bris
A bris offers several meaningful honors for grandparents, relatives and friends:
- Carrying the baby in (Kvatter & Kvatterin) — a couple who bring the baby into the room
- The Chair of Elijah (Kisei shel Eliyahu) — placing the baby on the chair of Elijah the Prophet
- Holding the baby (Sandek) — the great honor of holding the baby during the bris
- Blessings and naming — reciting the blessings and the prayer in which the baby is named
Baby naming for girls
A baby girl receives her Hebrew name when her father is called up to the Torah, ideally at the first Torah reading after her birth. The naming can take place at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life on a Monday, Thursday or Saturday morning, often followed by a small reception to celebrate. Rabbi Labkowski will arrange for the father to be called to the Torah (aliyah), say the blessing and help you choose a beautiful name.
The firstborn son ceremony (Pidyon HaBen)
When a baby boy is his mother’s firstborn, a special ceremony is held on the 31st day after birth, in which the father “redeems” his son from a Kohen — a descendant of the ancient Jewish priests — with five silver coins. It is a rare and joyous occasion, and not every firstborn requires one. Rabbi Labkowski can tell you whether it applies to your son and help arrange the ceremony, including finding a Kohen.
Frequently asked questions
When is a bris held?
A bris takes place on the eighth day of a baby boy’s life, counting the day of birth as day one (a Jewish day begins at sunset). If your son is born on a Monday before sunset, the bris is the following Monday. It is customarily held in the morning, and in most cases even on Shabbat (the Sabbath) or a Jewish holiday.
What if the baby is jaundiced or unwell?
A baby’s health always comes first. If there is jaundice or any medical concern, the bris is postponed until the baby is completely healthy. Let the Rabbi know right away and he will guide you.
Where can the bris take place?
At home, at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, at a synagogue or in a hall — wherever is comfortable for your family and guests in Buffalo or Western New York.
How do we choose a Hebrew name?
Many families name a child after a beloved relative, a figure from the Torah, or a name with a meaning they love. Rabbi Labkowski is happy to help you choose a Hebrew name and explain its significance.
What if we can’t afford a bris?
No family should go without a bris because of cost. Rabbi Labkowski and the Chabad Center for Jewish Life will arrange and sponsor the entire bris — the location, the festive meal and the ritual circumciser (mohel). Just call or text 716-545-6806; your conversation will be kept private.
We’re nervous about the bris. Can we talk to someone first?
Of course. Many parents feel that way. Rabbi Mendy is happy to sit down with you, in person or by phone, to explain what happens, how your baby is cared for, and answer every question before the day.
When is a baby girl named?
A daughter is named when her father is called up to the Torah, ideally at the first Torah reading after her birth — on a Monday, Thursday or Saturday morning. A small reception or celebration often follows.
Planning a bris or baby naming?
Call or text the Rabbi any time — the sooner the better.