{"id":481,"date":"2012-08-26T22:29:57","date_gmt":"2012-08-27T06:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/isaac.browdy.net\/?p=481"},"modified":"2012-08-28T20:06:29","modified_gmt":"2012-08-29T04:06:29","slug":"brit-milah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/isaac.browdy.net\/?p=481","title":{"rendered":"Brit Milah"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today was Isaac’s brit milah (aka bris).\u00a0 It was held at Uncle Jon’s house in San Francisco.\u00a0 We had a small intimate turnout and everything went great.\u00a0 Our mohel<\/a>, Rabbi Moshe Trager, was great: confident, funny, personable and knowledgeable.\u00a0 Pics will be forthcoming as Uncle Jon’s camera was used much more than mine.<\/p>\n

Until then, I thought it would be fun to post the readings that Jenny and I read for Isaac.\u00a0 I read the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling and Jenny read “Poem of Thanksgiving” (Adapted by Rabbi Maggie Wenig from the poem by Rabbi Judith Shanks).<\/p>\n

If<\/h2>\n
\n

If you can keep your head when all about you
\nAre losing theirs and blaming it on you;
\nIf you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
\nBut make allowance for their doubting too:
\nIf you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
\nOr, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
\nOr being hated don’t give way to hating,
\nAnd yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;<\/p>\n

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
\nIf you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
\nIf you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
\nAnd treat those two impostors just the same:.
\nIf you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
\nTwisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
\nOr watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
\nAnd stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools;<\/p>\n

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
\nAnd risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
\nAnd lose, and start again at your beginnings,
\nAnd never breathe a word about your loss:
\nIf you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
\nTo serve your turn long after they are gone,
\nAnd so hold on when there is nothing in you
\nExcept the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”<\/p>\n

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
\nOr walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
\nIf neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
\nIf all men count with you, but none too much:
\nIf you can fill the unforgiving minute
\nWith sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
\nYours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
\nAnd—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!<\/p>\n

Poem of Thanksgiving<\/h2>\n

With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my might
\nI thank You, God, for the gift of this wonderful child.
\nI thank You for a healthy pregnancy, a safe
\ndelivery and a speedy recovery.<\/p>\n

With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my might
\nI pray for the continued health of this child.
\nI pray for him to be strong in mind and body,
\nTo grow steadily and sturdily in a home filled with joy.
\nI pray for him to become a person who greets the world
\nWith passion, courage, humility, humor and patience.<\/p>\n

With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my might
\nI pray for God to watch over me and my family.
\nI pray for the ability to love and nurture this child
\nTo provide for him and to educate him,
\nTo understand him and to allow him the freedom to grow<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n