Parents:
With the arrival of our first son/newborn the cosmos are ever changed. The world is blessed anew. And we are now parents drawing upon wells of ancient wisdom and rivers of love.
Those congregated respond:
With this miracle of new life, we are filled with gratitude and share in the joy of these new parents. Among the billions of souls in the world we are filled with gratitude as we gather today to pledge our love, support and offer our blessings to them and their new child.
Parents:
Our pledge is to fill our lives and our child's life with love and learning. May we be blessed to fulfill the vision that was chanted under our chuppah at our wedding - that our house be uniquely our own, filled with love, and that we will nourish a connection with the Jewish People, Torah, and the pursuit of peace and acts of kindness.
The Kohein or Bat Kohein says:
The firstborn of the womb of a Jewish mother is redeemed by his parents since ancient times. We ask the new mother and father to present coins, in order to show their gratitude to God for allowing this child's body and soul to now be entrusted to them. As God gave us life, we give thanks.
Parents:
A member of the priestly group of the Jewish People acts as an agent, so that we may express our gratitude and show our thanks in ceremony. With this exchange we commit to nourish both an intellectual and a spiritual wisdom in our son/newborn, so that our child may come to grasp the meaning of being a Jew and make meaning of life itself.
The mother says to the Bat Kohen/Kohen:
Yaldah Li Ben Zeh HaBakhur
יָלְדָה לִי בֵּן זֶה הַבְּכוֹר
We have been blessed with a firstborn son.
The father takes the coins or item of value:
With the money extended, the father explains:
Hafetz Ani Lifdot et B'ni v'heh l'kha demay fidyono sheh'nitchayavti min haTorah
חָפֵץ אֲנִי לִפְדוֹת אֶת בְּנִי וְהֵא לְךָ דְמֵי פִדְיוֹנוֹ שֶׁנִתְחַיַבְתִּי מִן הַתּוֹרָה
I want to redeem my son, and here you have the coins that I am required by the Torah to give.
The parents together pronounce the blessing:
Barukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh HaOlam Asher Kidshanu B'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al Pidyon haBen
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו. וְצִוָּנוּ עַל פִּדְיוֹן הַבֵּן
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the redemption of a son.
Barukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh HaOlam SheHekhayanu, V'kiyamanu v'higiyanu lazman hazeh!
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְמַן הַזֶּה
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.
The kohen takes the money and then, while holding the money over the child's head, recites the following:
Zeh tahat zeh, zeh hiluf zeh, zeh mahul zeh, v'yikanes zeh haben l'chaim l'Torah u'l'yirat Shamayim
זֶה תַחַת זֶה, זֶה חִילוּף זֶה, זֶה מָחוּל עַל זֶה. וְיִכָּנֵס זֶה הַבֵּן לְחַיִים לְתּוֹרָה וּלְיִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם.
This comes to show gratitude for life; as God has granted breath so will the parents breath life into their child. With this we begin teaching how meaningful and beautiful the gift of life is. Parents and extended family, friends and community all symbolized by me pledge to help this family pursue lives guided by Jewish values and God's Presence.
The Kohen or Bat Kohen then blesses the child with hands upon or over the child's head:
יְשִׂימְךָ אֱלהִים כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁהְ
יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
יִשָּׂא ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
ה' שׁמְרֶךָ ה' צִלּךָ עַל יַד יְמִינֶךָ
ה' יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל רָע יִשְׁמר אֶת נַפְשֶׁךָ
כִּי אוֹרֶךְ יָמִים וּשְׁנוֹת חַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם יוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ
ה' יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל רָע יִשְׁמר אֶת נַפְשֶׁךָ
Another may read:
May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.
May God bless you and guard you.
May God shine His countenance upon you and grant you grace.
May God turn His countenance towards you and grant you peace.
Another may read:
God should guard you against all evil, [may He] guard your soul.
For long days and years of life shall be added to you.
G‑d should guard you against all evil, [may He] guard your soul.
Lifting the glass of wine, the Bat Kohen or Kohen says:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the Universe, who created fruit of the vine.
The parents may then address their child, share blessings and more about the baby's name.
Others in the community of family and friends offer blessings.
Then the festive meal commences; one challah is needed and a speicial Birkat HaMazon may be recited.