It's a Girl!
There is no female version of the berit milah. While some think this means that girls receive the short end of the stick when it comes to being welcomed into the world in accordance with Jewish tradition, another way of looking at it is that they get off easy! While there are no explicit rituals or mitzvot associated with the birth of a girl, customs and traditions have evolved to celebrate this important occasion.
Naming a Baby Girl
Traditionally, a baby girl receives her name either when her father is honored with an aliyah on the first Sabbath after she is born or during any Torah reading. A prayer is said at this time for the health and well-being of the mother and child. If the mother is present, she recites a special prayer of thanksgiving.
In naming a baby girl, the prayer recited by Ashkenazic Jews begins with the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When Sephardic Jews name a baby girl at a Torah reading, the blessing that is customarily made begins with the matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.
In Reform congregations, it is the common practice to name a baby girl during a Friday evening or Saturday morning service where the parents are in attendance with their friends and family.
However, a baby may be named in places other than the synagogue. Some parents prefer to name their baby girls in their home and invite family and friends to participate in a festive celebration of a new life. This ceremony is called a Berit Ha-Chayim (the Covenant of Life) or Berit Ha-Bat (the Covenant for a Daughter). During this ceremony, the baby girl is given her name.
