Return to the Guide to Birth Ceremonies for Interfaith Families.

Hamotzi (Blessing over bread)

Blessed is the Oneness that makes us holy and brings forth bread from the earth.

Phonetic Hebrew transliteration:

Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha-alom ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz.

Kiddush (Blessing over wine)

Blessed is the Oneness that makes us holy. Blessed is the Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Phonetic Hebrew transliteration:

Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha-alom bor-ay peri ha-gafen.

Alternate Blessing over Wine

We rejoice in our heritage which has given us the cup of wine as a symbol of our rejoicing.

(Put wine on baby’s lips.) We (or baby’s sibling) will pass around a cup of wine. Please tell us your hopes for        ‘s future as you sip from the cup.

This cup is the vessel of our hopes. It is filled with the new wine of a life just begun. The sweetness of its taste is the joy         has brought.

-by Len Cherlin

Submitted by Judith Seid