Simchat Bat Ceremony for Rebecca Gail Heller
16 January 1994

The Mezuzah

Install a mezuzzah on the door frame of Rebecca's bedroom, and call the group to order.

Warming Up

All sing: Hevenu Shalom Alechem

Deb: Bruchim HaBaim
Steve: Welcome

Steve: Zeh hayom asah Adonai, nagilah vinismicha bo.
Deb: This is the day that God made. Let us rejoyce and be glad.
[Psalms 118:24]

Welcome and Explaination

Steve: We wish to welcome all of you, our family and our friends, to this Simchat Bat --- a ceremony in which our daughter will enter into the covenant of the Jewish Community.

Debbie: This is a new ritual that has been developing for the last twenty years as a special way to welcome a girl into the Jewish Community. The banging you just heard was the installation of a mezuzah on the door post of our daughter's room. This is a traditional jewish sign.

Steve: This ceremony has two aspects. We welcome our daughter to the family and to the Jewish community. The names we have chosen for our daughter are family names, and they are the way she will be recognized in the community.

Debbie: By joining the covenent, we hope that the world will welcome our daughter, and our daughter will contribute to making the world a better place.

Verses From the Song of Songs

Steve

O my dove in the rocky clefts,
In the covert of terace high,
Let me see your face,
Let me hear your voice.
For sweet is your voice,
And your face is beautiful.

Debbie

One alone is my dove, my perfect one,
The darling of her mother
The choice one of her who bore her.
Daughters saw her, they acclaimed her,
Queens and consorts, they sang her praise.

The Names

Legalail -- to find
Galit --- little wave.

Debbie: Discussion of Debbie mother's father's father's mother Rebecca.
Steve: Discussion of Steve's father's mother Gizella.

Blessings

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohainu Melech haolam, asher kidishanu bimitzvotav liHaHnisah birito shel am yisroyel.
Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has made us holy through Your commandments, and commanded us to bring or daughter into the covenant of the people of Israel.

Baruch Ata Adonai, misameich horim im ha yeladim.
Praised are You, God, who makes parents rejoyce with their children.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohainu Melech haolam, sheHeHeyanu vikeeyimanu vihigiyanu lazman hazeh.
Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who has sustained us in life and being and brought us to this moment.

The Name

Kiddush [1 line].

Karen: Kayam et hayaldah hazot l'imah ul'avihah v'yikaray sh'mah b'Yisrael Galit bat Hanah Leah v'Yosef. Yismah ha'av b'yotzay halatzav v'tagayl ha'aym b'fri bitnah, kakatuv: "Yismah avikhah v'imaykh v'tagayl yolad'takh."
Sustain this child with her mother and father, and may her name be called among the people of Israel Galit the daughter of Hanah Leah and Yosef. May her parents rejoyce with their children.

All: As she has entered into the comenant, so may she attain Learning, Family, and a life of good deeds.

Deb and Steve [hold Rebecca]

Yismaych Elohim K'Sarah, Rivhah, Rachel, v'Leah.
May god make you as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachael, and Leah.

Yevarechicha Adonai V'yishm'recha.
Ya'ayr Adonai Panav aylecha v'hunecha.
Yisa Adonai Panav ay'lecha v'yasaym l'kha shalom.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord turn his face to you and be gracious unto you.
May tthe Lord turn His face to you and grant you peace.

All:
Amen. We agree!

All sing: Hinay matov oomanayim, shevet achim gam yachad. Kiddush, Motzih, and Festive Celebration