Definition

1. Noun:
   • A Jewish religious ceremony: Specifically, the covenant of circumcision performed on a male infant on the eighth day after his birth, signifying the entry into the Jewish people's covenant with God.

Usage

• Noun:
  • The berith is a fundamental rite in Judaism.
  • Attending a berith is considered a great honor and a religious duty.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The family gathered for the baby's berith.
  • According to tradition, the berith must be performed on the eighth day, even if it falls on the Sabbath.

Advanced Usage

• "Berith milah": A more formal term combining Hebrew words for "covenant" () and "circumcision" (). This is the full traditional name for the ceremony.
  • The berith milah is conducted by a specially trained individual called a mohel.

Variants and Related Words

• Bris (noun): A common Yiddish term for the same ceremony, derived from the Hebrew .
  • The bris will be held at the parents' home.
• Brit milah (noun): An alternative transliteration of the Hebrew term .

Synonyms

• Circumcision ceremony: A descriptive English term for the ritual.
• Covenant of circumcision: A direct translation emphasizing the covenantal aspect.

Notes

• The word itself is a transliteration of the Hebrew word בְּרִית (bərīṯ), meaning "covenant" or "pact." In the context of this rite, it specifically refers to the covenant between God and Abraham as described in the Hebrew Bible.

Noun

1. the Jewish rite of circumcision performed on a male child on the eighth day of his life