Honors at the Bris
The bris ceremony is replete with meaning and emotion. Friends and family can be honored at various parts during the ceremony to help make this a significant moment.
The honors that can be bestowed are as follows:
- Candle Lighting - One or more candles can be lit immediately before the bris.
- Kvaters (commonly translated as "godparents") - A husband and wife and/or others are honored to bring the baby forward into the room.
- Kisei Shel Eliyahu - (The chair of Elijah) - Places the baby on a chair before the bris.
- Sandek - holds the baby during the actual bris. Considered to be the highest honor - often given to a grandfather.
- Omed Al Habrachos - The person who holds the baby during the blessings and baby naming. (This honor can be shared among two people).