It is probably not sensible to explain exactly what a circumcision is to P1–P3 children. As written on the banner, brit milah is a naming ceremony, and we suggest using this terminology for young children.

P4–P7+
For children who request more information or with whom their teacher deems it appropriate to discuss the details, we suggest the following explanation:

Circumcision is a very small operation (or medical procedure) performed when a baby boy is 8 days old (provided the baby is healthy). It involves removing the small flap of excess skin (called the foreskin) from the top of the penis.  This is always done by someone specially trained to do this, called a “mohel”, who is often also a doctor. It is totally safe and does not cause the baby much pain at that young age.

Many people think that circumcision has health benefits – for example it can prevent infections. Muslim boys are also circumcised, and it is common in the British Royal Family, and in the USA.

The traditional Jewish belief is that G-d created some parts of the world unfinished so that humans could be partners with G-d in completing and perfecting the world. One of the things left incomplete is this part of a baby boy’s body, and by removing this tiny piece of skin, his body is ‘completed’. By having a brit milah ceremony, Jewish parents are continuing G-d’s covenant with Abraham, and showing that they want their son to be part of the Jewish people.’

Brit milah translates as the “covenant of circumcision”, which originated as an agreement, described in the Torah, between G-d and Abraham 4000 years ago. Only boy babies are circumcised, and they are named during the ceremony. It is the mitzvah (commandment) most widely kept by Jews across the world.

Girls are usually given their name as part of a public ceremony during the Shabbat service in the synagogue.

Jewish children are often given both a Hebrew name and an ‘everyday’ name. In most communities the custom is to name a child in memory of a deceased relative, but in some (mainly Sephardi) communities the custom is to name a child in honour of a living relative.

In some Orthodox communities, the custom of giving a boy his first haircut on his third birthday, called upsherin (Yiddish) or chalakah (Hebrew), marks the age at which Jewish education officially starts, and indicates that the child is now old enough to be aware of what is going on around him. In some communities, three is also the age at which girls start to light Shabbat and festival candles with their mothers.

Bar/Bat mitzvah translate as “subject to the commandments”, and is the age at which a young person is deemed responsible for his or her own actions. According to tradition, Abraham was 13 when he rejected idolatry and became a believer in one G-d.

Traditionally boys celebrate their Bar Mitzvah when they turn 13, and girls their Bat Mitzvah at age 12, but some Progressive communities celebrate both at 13. This often marked by a ceremony in the synagogue and a party, but note that whether or not someone “has a bat/bar mitzvah”, they become bat or bar mitzvah as soon as they reach this age.

Judaism regards life as sacred, and teaches that "one who saves a single life is regarded as if he had saved the whole world", so almost all other religious obligations must (not "may") be set aside in order to do so. Find out which other faith or belief systems allow you to break their laws in order to save a life.

Many common names, such as Joshua and Hannah, come from the Jewish Bible or are derived from the Hebrew language. Find out what language your name comes from and what it means.

Were you named after anyone? Do you know why?

How important is your name as part of your identity?

Do you think someone of 12 or 13 is mature enough for someone to make their own decisions? Which decisions do you think you can and can’t make at 13?

At what age do you think you should be held legally responsible for your actions?  Until that age, do you think your parents or carers should be held responsible?

Bar and Bat Mitzvah (P4–S3)

BBC: 12-year-old Ethan is preparing for his bar mitzvah - Being Jewish (P4–S3)

BBC: What is a Bat Mitzvah? (P4–S3)

Bat mitzvah girl reading from the Torah (P1+)