Standing at Your Son’s Bris
Your son is about to enter the bris of Avrohom Avinu. This is one of the most powerful moments a father will ever experience. The joy is real, and so is the awe. You are bringing your newborn into a covenant that goes back thousands of years, the same covenant Avrohom entered for Klal Yisrael.
Trust it. Hashem gave you this child, and Hashem gave Klal Yisrael this mitzvah. The bracha you are about to say is not just words. It is a declaration: I am bringing my son into the covenant of Avrohom Avinu. As Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer (ch. 29) teaches, and Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 265:1) codifies through the father’s blessing, each Jewish father brings his son into the covenant of Abraham Avinu at the bris.
The blessings recited at a brit milah are codified in the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 265), which lays out the brachos said at the bris, including the father’s blessing. The blessing itself is older than the Shulchan Aruch and already appears in the Gemara (Shabbat 137b). These are ancient words, recited by Jewish fathers for generations.
Before You Say This Tefillah
Before the bris begins, take a moment. Look at your son. This tiny person was placed in your hands by Hashem, and now you are bringing him into the oldest covenant in Jewish history. Speak to Hashem simply, from the heart:
Master of the Universe, I am prepared and ready to fulfill the mitzvah of milah, to bring my son into the covenant of Avrohom Avinu. Guard the baby, heal him quickly, and grant us to raise him to Torah, to chuppah, and to good deeds. God of Meir, answer me.
If giving tzedakah, add:
In the merit of the tzedakah I give in the merit of Rabbi Meir, who was circumcised in the holy covenant, so may You guard my circumcised son. Ribbono Shel Olam, I care for Your children, please care for my child.
The Brachos of the Bris Milah
A Parent’s Prayer Before the Bris
(short tefillah for the parents before the bris, asking Hashem to strengthen the baby and to merit raising him to Torah, chuppah, and ma’asim tovim.)
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עַל הַתִּינוֹק הַזֶּה וּתְחַזֵּק אֶת לִבּוֹ וְאֶת אֵבָרָיו לְקַיֵּם אֶת הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת כָּרָאוּי. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁזָּכִינוּ לְהַכְנִיסוֹ בִּבְרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, כֵּן נִזְכֶּה לְגַדְּלוֹ לְתוֹרָה וּלְחֻפָּה וּלְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים
Tehillim Kapitel 6
(Tehillim 6 is a plea for mercy and healing, and in this context it may be recited as a tefillah for the baby’s wellbeing.)
לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינוֹת עַֽל־הַשְּׁמִינִית מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִֽד יְֽהֹוָה אַל־בְּאַפְּךָ תוֹכִיחֵנִי וְֽאַל־בַּחֲמָתְךָ תְיַסְּרֵֽנִי חׇנֵּנִי יְהֹוָה כִּי אֻמְלַל־אָנִי רְפָאֵנִי יְהֹוָה כִּי נִבְהֲלוּ עֲצָמָֽי וְנַפְשִׁי נִבְהֲלָה מְאֹד (ואת) [וְאַתָּה] יְהֹוָה עַד־מָתָֽי שׁוּבָה יְהֹוָה חַלְּצָה נַפְשִׁי הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי לְמַעַן חַסְדֶּֽךָ כִּי אֵין בַּמָּוֶת זִכְרֶךָ בִּשְׁאוֹל מִי יֽוֹדֶה־לָּֽךְ יָגַעְתִּי׀ בְּֽאַנְחָתִי אַשְׂחֶה בְכׇל־לַיְלָה מִטָּתִי בְּדִמְעָתִי עַרְשִׂי אַמְסֶֽה עָשְׁשָׁה מִכַּעַס עֵינִי עָתְקָה בְּכׇל־צוֹרְרָֽי סוּרוּ מִמֶּנִּי כׇּל־פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן כִּֽי־שָׁמַע יְהֹוָה קוֹל בִּכְיִֽי שָׁמַע יְהֹוָה תְּחִנָּתִי יְהֹוָה תְּֽפִלָּתִי יִקָּֽח יֵבֹשׁוּ׀ וְיִבָּהֲלוּ מְאֹד כׇּל־אֹיְבָי יָשֻׁבוּ יֵבֹשׁוּ רָֽגַע
Brachos on the Milah
המוהל: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל הַמִּילָה׃
האב: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַכְנִיסוֹ בִּבְרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ׃
הקהל: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּכְנַס לַבְּרִית כֵּן יִכָּנֵס לְתוֹרָה וּלְחֻפָּה וּלְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים׃
A Parent’s Prayer Before the Bris
(short tefillah for the parents before the bris, asking Hashem to strengthen the baby and to merit raising him to Torah, chuppah, and ma’asim tovim.)
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עַל הַתִּינוֹק הַזֶּה וּתְחַזֵּק אֶת לִבּוֹ וְאֶת אֵבָרָיו לְקַיֵּם אֶת הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת כָּרָאוּי. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁזָּכִינוּ לְהַכְנִיסוֹ בִּבְרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, כֵּן נִזְכֶּה לְגַדְּלוֹ לְתוֹרָה וּלְחֻפָּה וּלְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים
May it be Your will, Hashem our God and God of our fathers, that You have mercy on this child and strengthen his heart and his limbs to fulfill this mitzvah properly. And just as we have merited to bring him into the covenant of Avraham Avinu, so may we merit to raise him to Torah, to chuppah, and to good deeds.
Tehillim Kapitel 6
(Tehillim 6 is a plea for mercy and healing, and in this context it may be recited as a tefillah for the baby’s wellbeing.)
Lam’natze’ach bin’ginos al hash’minis mizmor l’Dovid. Hashem, al b’ap’cho soichicheini, v’al bachamos’cho s’yas’reini. Choneini Hashem ki umlal oni, r’fo’eini Hashem ki nivhalu atzmosai. V’nafshi nivhaloh m’oid, v’Atoh Hashem ad mosai. Shuvoh Hashem chal’tzoh nafshi, hoshi’eini l’ma’an chasdecho. Ki ein bamoves zichrecho, bishol mi yoideh loch. Yogati b’anchosi, as’cheh v’chol lailoh mitosi, b’dim’osi arsi am’seh. Os’sh’shoh mikaas eini, os’koh b’chol tzor’roi. Suru mimeni kol po’alei oven, ki shoma Hashem kol b’chyi. Shoma Hashem t’chinosi, Hashem t’filosi yikoch. Yeivoishu v’yibohalu m’oid kol oiy’vai, yoshuvu yeivoishu roga. Lamnatze’ach binginot al hashminit mizmor l’David. Hashem, al be’apcha tochikheni, ve’al bachamatcha teyasreni. Chaneni Hashem ki umlal ani, refa’eni Hashem ki nivhalu atzmotai. Venafshi nivhalah me’od, ve’Atah Hashem ad matai. Shuvah Hashem chaltzah nafshi, hoshi’eni lema’an chasdecha. Ki ein bamavet zichrecha, bishol mi yodeh lach. Yagati be’anchati, ascheh vechol lailah mitati, bedim’ati arsi amseh. Asheshah mika’as eini, atkah bechol tzorerai. Suru mimeni kol po’alei aven, ki shama Hashem kol bechi. Shama Hashem techinati, Hashem tefilati yikach. Yevoshu veyibahalu me’od kol oyvai, yashuvu yevoshu raga.
Brachos on the Milah
Mohel: Boruch Atoh Hashem Eloikeinu Melech ho’oilom asher kid’shonu b’mitzvoisov v’tzivonu al hamiloh.
Father: Boruch Atoh Hashem Eloikeinu Melech ho’oilom asher kid’shonu b’mitzvoisov v’tzivonu l’hachniso bivriso shel Avrohom Ovinu.
All present: K’sheim shenichnos labris kein yikoneis l’Soiroh l’chupoh ul’ma’asim toivim.
A Parent’s Prayer Before the Bris
Yehi ratzon milefanecha Hashem Elokeinu ve’Elokei avoteinu, shet’rachem al hatinok hazeh ut’chazek et libo v’et evarav l’kayem et hamitzva hazot kara’ui. Uch’shem shezachinu l’hachniso bivrito shel Avraham Avinu, ken nizkeh l’gadlo l’Tora ul’chupa ul’ma’asim tovim.
Tehillim Kapitel 6
Lamnatze’ach binginot al hashminit mizmor l’David. Hashem, al be’apcha tochicheni, ve’al bachamatcha teyasreni. Chonneni Hashem ki umlal ani, refa’eni Hashem ki nivhalu atzamai. V’nafshi nivhala me’od, v’Ata Hashem ad matai. Shuva Hashem chaltza nafshi, hoshi’eni l’ma’an chasdecha. Ki ein bamavet zichrecha, bish’ol mi yodeh lach. Yagati be’anchati, ascheh v’chol laila mitati, b’dim’ati arsi amseh. Ashesha mika’as eini, atka b’chol tzorerai. Suru mimeni kol po’alei aven, ki shama Hashem kol bichyi. Shama Hashem techinati, Hashem tefilati yikach. Yevoshu v’yibahalu me’od kol oyvai, yashuvu yevoshu raga.
Brachos on the Milah
Hamohel: Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al hamila.
Ha’av: Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hachniso bivrito shel Avraham Avinu.
Hakahal: K’shem shenichnas labrit ken yikanes l’Tora ul’chupa ul’ma’asim tovim.
A Parent’s Prayer Before the Bris
(short tefillah for the parents before the bris, asking Hashem to strengthen the baby and to merit raising him to Torah, chuppah, and good deeds.)
May it be Your will, Hashem our God and God of our fathers, that You have mercy on this child and strengthen his heart and his limbs to fulfill this mitzvah properly. And just as we have merited to bring him into the covenant of Avraham Avinu, so may we merit to raise him to Torah, to chuppah, and to good deeds.
Tehillim Kapitel 6
(Tehillim 6 is a plea for mercy and healing, and in this context it may be recited as a tefillah for the baby’s wellbeing.)
For the conductor, on the sheminit, a psalm by David.
Hashem, do not rebuke me in Your anger, and do not chastise me in Your wrath.
Be gracious to me, Hashem, for I am feeble; heal me, Hashem, for my bones are terrified.
And my soul is terrified greatly, and You, Hashem — until when?
Return, Hashem, release my soul; save me for the sake of Your kindness.
For in death there is no remembrance of You; in the grave, who will give You thanks?
I am weary with my sighing; every night I drench my bed, with my tears I melt my couch.
My eye wastes away from vexation; it has aged because of all my tormentors.
Depart from me, all workers of iniquity, for Hashem has heard the voice of my weeping.
Hashem has heard my plea; Hashem will accept my prayer.
Let all my enemies be ashamed and terrified greatly; let them return and be ashamed in an instant.
Brachos on the Milah
Mohel: Blessed are You, God, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning circumcision. Father: Blessed are You, God, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to bring him into the covenant of Abraham our father. All present: Just as he has entered into the covenant, so may he enter into Torah, into the chuppah, and into good deeds.
The father’s bracha is said between the milah and the priah, following the order laid out in the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 265:1. The Gemara in Shabbos 130a cites a Baraita: any mitzvah that Klal Yisrael accepted with simchah, like milah, they continue performing with simchah. The community response, “k’sheim shenichnas la-brit… kein yikanes la-Torah, la-chuppah, u-lema’asim tovim,” expresses the classic threefold bracha for the child; this wording appears in Shabbos 137b and is brought in Yoreh Deah 265:1.
What These Words Mean for You
L’hachniso bivriso shel Avrohom Ovinu
“To bring him into the covenant of Abraham our father.”
This is the bracha recited by the father at the bris. It frames the moment not as a mere procedure, but as entry into the covenant of Avrohom Ovinu.
Dig Deeper
You are bringing your son into the covenant that Hashem gave to Avrohom Ovinu and his descendants. When you say these words, you are affirming that your son is entering that covenantal bond as part of Klal Yisrael.
K’sheim shenichnos labris
“Just as he has entered into the covenant.”
Those present respond with a tefillah for the child’s future. The bris is the entrance, but it is only the beginning.
Dig Deeper
They daven that this baby should grow to Torah, chuppah, and ma’asim tovim. Their words look ahead to the kind of life they are blessing him to build.
Asher kid’shonu b’mitzvoisov
“Who has sanctified us with His commandments.”
This is the classic opening of a bracha on a mitzvah. At a bris, it lands with special force.
Dig Deeper
You are holding your eight-day-old son, and you are saying: Hashem, You sanctified us. You chose us for this. At this moment, the words underline that the bris is an act of kedushah: Hashem sanctified us through His commandments and commanded us in this mitzvah.
L’Soiroh l’chupoh ul’ma’asim toivim
“To Torah, to the chuppah, and to good deeds.”
These words hold an entire hoped-for future.Three words that hold an entire life. Torah for the mind and neshamah.
Dig Deeper
Torah points to a life shaped by learning and avodas Hashem. Chuppah points to building a Jewish home. Ma’asim tovim points to a life of mitzvos and goodness. This is what the gathered community is davening for as he enters the bris.
How to Say This Prayer
The father’s bracha is said during the bris ceremony itself, between the milah and the priah. The mohel will guide you on when to say it. You do not need to memorize it ahead of time. Most mohalim have the text written out for you, or they will prompt you word by word.
But preparation matters. In the hours before the bris, when the house is full of guests and your heart is racing, find a quiet corner. Say the RMBH prayer from above. Ask Hashem to guard your baby. Ask for the zechus to raise him well. Let your kavanah be simple: “Hashem, I am giving You my son. Please give him back to me whole and healthy.”
Connecting tefillah and tzedakah at this moment is powerful. When you give tzedakah in the zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness on the day of your son’s bris, you are pairing the mitzvah of milah with the mitzvah of chesed. Your tefillah and your actions rise together. After the ceremony, you may add: Elokah d’Meir aneni!
Give Tzedakah in the Zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness
The Gemara (Avodah Zarah 18a-18b) tells how Bruria asked Rabbi Meir to rescue her sister, who had been condemned by the Romans to a house of shame. There seemed to be no way out. Rabbi Meir approached the guard with a bribe, teaching him to say “Elokah d’Meir aneni!” — “God of Meir, answer me!” — if he was ever in danger. When the guard asked for proof, Rabbi Meir threw a clod of earth at nearby man-eating dogs. They lunged to devour him, and he called out the words — the dogs turned away. The guard was convinced and released her, later using these powerful words to miraculously save his life. When we daven with these words, we are asking Hashem to answer our prayer in the merit of this great tzaddik and the miracles he merited.
Giving tzedakah in the zechus of Rabbi Meir is asking Hashem to hear your tefillah in the combined merit of this great tzaddik and your own act of chesed. On the day of your son’s bris, when you are already doing a mitzvah with your whole heart, adding tzedakah strengthens your tefillah even further. Those who say this tefillah often also turn to the jewish prayer for childbirth.
Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities was founded in 1799. It supports talmidei chachamim and families in need in Eretz Yisrael. The talmidei chachamim at the kever of Rabbi Meir in Tiberias daven for those who reach out to them. When you give tzedakah on the day of the bris, you are bringing the zechus of your son’s covenant and the zechus of your chesed together before Hashem.
Give Tzedakah in the Zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness The father’s bracha from the Shulchan Aruch ( Yoreh Deah 265 ) is the traditional prayer before brit milah: “Boruch Atoh Hashem… asher kid’shonu b’mitzvoisov v’tzivonu l’hachniso bivriso shel Avrohom Ovinu.” You can also say the personal prayer above, asking Hashem to guard the baby and heal him quickly. Those who daven this tefillah often find the prayer after childbirth meaningful as well. Yes. Many fathers take a moment before the ceremony to speak to Hashem from the heart. The prayer above is composed specifically for this moment. Say it in a quiet corner before the guests arrive or right before the bris begins. The personal prayer can be said anytime before the ceremony. The father’s bracha from the Shulchan Aruch is said during the ceremony itself, between the milah and the priah, as the mohel will instruct you. God of Meir, answer me.” These are the words Rabbi Meir taught when he faced danger. Saying them at a bris and giving tzedakah is an expression of emunah that Hashem will guard your son and bless this new beginning. Tzedakah adds a real act of chesed to your tefillah. You are caring for other families in Eretz Yisrael while asking Hashem to heal and protect your son. Generations of Yidden have given in the zechus of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness at moments of deep significance for their families.
A Brachah for Your Son
You are standing at one of the most important moments of your son’s life. He is too young to understand it now, but one day, b’ezras Hashem, he will know what happened here. That his father brought him into the bris of Avrohom Avinu. That people davened for him. That tzedakah was given in his zechus.
May Hashem guard your son. May the bris go smoothly and the healing be swift. May you and your wife raise him to Torah, to chuppah, and to ma’asim tovim, and may he bring you nachas all the days of your life. And may the bracha you speak over him today echo through every year that follows.
You can submit your son’s name to the talmidei chachamim at the kever of Rabbi Meir in Tiberias at no cost. They will daven for him by name. And if you would like to give tzedakah in Rabbi Meir’s zechus as well, your chesed will rise together with your tefillah.
