Franklin's Brit Milah

On Thursday, May 23, the eighth day after Fanklin's birth, he had a traditional Jewish circumcision ceremony, called a brit milah (bris.)  It was hosted at Bet David Synagogue in Sandton (a Johannesburg suburb), and Rabbi Robert Jacobs led the ceremony.

Our good friends, Jessi and Uri, helped carry Franklin into the main room of the synagogue, where the ceremony was performed.  Uri held Franklin while the surgery was performed.  Peter did important dad duties (such as replacing Franklin's pacifier when it fell out!) and delegating his snipping responsibility to an actual surgeon.

Jessi also kept Aviva and me company and let Aviva play games on her phone.  

The room was beautiful, but nearly empty!  Most of our friends were not able to attend a midday ceremony in the middle of the week.  Sorry, Franklin. 

After the, um, surgical part of the ceremony, there was a naming ceremony, where Franklin's various names (at least the English and Hebrew ones) were announced. (The Chinese ones are still yet to come.)

Even Aviva got to try the "special juice" as part of the ceremony.

All things considered, it was a pretty good day.  True, our helpless newborn son was subjected to a scary procedure, but it's tradition.  Right?

Here are a few pics from the rest of the weekend.