The first born male child must be redeemed on the thirty-first day of his birth. If, however, the father is a Kohein or a Levite, or the mother a daughter of a Kohein or a Levite, they are exempt from the duty of redemption. Should the thirty-first day fall on a Shabbos or Yom Tov, the service is postponed until the next day.
The father, presenting his child to the Kohein, makes the following declaration:
זֶה בְּנִי בְּכוֹרִי This, my first born son,
וְהוּא פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם לְאִמוֹ, is the first issue of his mother's womb,
וְהַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא and the Holy One, blessed is He
צִוָה לִפְדוֹתוֹ, has commanded to redeem him,
שֶׁנֶאֱמַר, as it is said:
וּפְדוּיָו And those that are to be redeemed of them,
מִבֶּן חוֹדֶשׁ תִּפְדֶה from a month old shall you redeem them,
בְּעֶרְכְּךָ according to your estimation,
כֶּסֶף חֲמֵשֶׁת שְׁקָלִים for the money of five silver shekalim,
בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקוֹדֶשׁ of the shekel of the Sanctuary
עֶשְׂרִים גֵרָה הוּא. which is equal to twenty geirah.1Numbers 18:16.
וְנֶאֱמַר, And it is said:
קַדֶשׁ לִי כָל בְּכוֹר Sanctify unto me all the firstborn,
פֶּטֶר כָּל רֶחֶם whatsoever opens the womb
בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל among the Children of Israel,
בָּאָדָם וּבַבְּהֵמָה, לִי הוּא: both of man and of beast is Mine.2Exodus 13:2.
The father then places before the Kohein silver dollars in the amount of fiveshekalim which is equal to five silver dollars, or according to some Poskim seven silver dollars, and the Kohein asks:
מַה בָּעִית טְפֵי Which do you prefer,
לִיתֵּן לִי בִּנְךָ בְּכוֹרֶךָ to give me your firstborn son
שֶׁהוּא פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם לְאִמוֹ, who is the first issue of his mother's womb,
אוֹ בָּעִית לִפְדוֹתוֹ or would you rather redeem him
בְּעַד חָמֵשׁ סְלָעִים for five shekalim,
כְּדִמְחֻיַּבְתָּ מִדְאוֹרַיְיתָא: as you are required to do by the Torah?
The father replies:
חָפֵץ אֲנִי לִפְדוֹת אֶת בְּנִי I wish to redeem my son
וְהֵילָךְ דְמֵי פִדְיוֹנוֹ and here is the value of his redemption
כְּדִמְחֻיַּבְתִּי which I am required to give
מִדְאוֹרַייְתָא: according to the Torah.
While holding the silver dollars, the father says these two Berachos:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָֹה Blessed are You, Adonoy
אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, our God, King of the Universe,
אֲשֶׁר קִדְשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו Who sanctified us with His commandments
וְצִוּנוּ and commanded us concerning
עַל פִּדְיוֹן הַבֵּן: the redemption of the [firstborn] son.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָֹה Blessed are You, Adonoy
אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, our God, King of the Universe,
שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְמָנוּ Who has kept us alive and sustained us
וְהִגִיעָנוּ, לַזְמַן הַזֶה: and brought us to this time.
The Kohein accepts the silver dollars, and holding it over the head of the child, says:
זֶה תַּחַת זֶה This is instead of that,
זֶה חִלּוּף זֶה this is in exchange for that,
זֶה מָחוּל עַל זֶה. this is pardoned for that.
וְיִכָּנֵס זֶה הַבֵּן לְחַיִּים, May this child enter into life,
לְתּוֹרָה into the [study of] Torah,
וּלְחֻפָּה וּלְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, chupah [the nuptial canopy] and good deeds.
אָמֵן: Amein.
The Kohein places his right hand upon the head of the child and blesses him:
יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלֺהִים May God make you
כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה. as Ephraim and Menashe.
יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָֹה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ. Adonoy bless you and guard you.
יָאֵר יְהוָֹה פָּנָיו אֵלֶֽיךָ Adonoy shine His countenance upon you
וִיחֻנֶּֽךָּ. and be gracious unto you.
יִשָּׁא יְהוָֹה פָּנָיו אֵלֶֽיךָ Adonoy turn His countenance toward you
וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם. and grant you peace.
יְהוָֹה שֹׁמְרֶֽךָ Adonoy is your guardian;
יְהוָֹה צִלְּךָ עַל יַד יְמִינֶֽךָ. Adonoy is your shelter at your right hand.
כִּי אוֹרֶךְ יָמִים For length of days
וּשְׁנוֹת חַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם and years of life and peace,
יוֹסִֽיפוּ לָךְ. will He add to you.
יְהוָֹה יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל רָע, Adonoy will guard you from all evil,
יִשְׁמוֹר אֶת נַפְשֶֽׁךָ: He will preserve your soul.
The Kohein hands the child to the father.
The Kohein then takes a cup of wine and says:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָֹה Blessed are You, Adonoy
אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, our God, King of the Universe,
בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן: Who creates the fruit of the vine.