Bris

What is the role of Godparents in Judaism? The role of Godparents in Judaism has grown out of the requirements of the ceremony of circumcision (Brit Milah or Brit for short). During the ceremony the baby boy needs to be held securely by someone whilst the Mohel performs the actual operation. Originally this person was the father of the boy, but by around the 9th Century this role began to taken by a person designated as the Sandak. The word Sandak is derived from a Greek word meaning GodfatherӔ. Traditionally the Sandak would be one of the Grandfathers of the child, although in eastern Europe the role was often fulfilled by the Rabbi of the community. The Sandaks wife, designated the Sandakit (Godmother) would bring the child from its mother to the Sandak for the ceremony. Some time in the Middle Ages, in Eastern Europe, the idea of appointing a Sandakit was dropped in favour of appointing a grandfather or other person to be the Sandak and two other friends or relatives, who were usually either husband and wife or brother and sister to each other, to be the Kvatter and Kvatterin. These are Yiddish words derived from the old German word for Godfather. The Brit Milah procedure, in some communities, from then on took place as follows. The baby boy would be passed from his mother to each woman attending the Brit in turn, finally ending up in the arms of the Kvatterin. She would then bring to the child to the room where the Brit was to be performed and hand it to the Kvatter. He would give the boy to the Mohel who would place him on the SandakҒs lap. The reason for all the passing around of the baby boy was based on ideas deriving from Leviticus 12:1-5, that a woman is somehow impure for thirty three days after childbirth and thus could not have direct contact with a man until that time had elapsed. Beyond this role at the Brit the GodparentsӔ had and have no formal role in Judaism. The situation in Christianity is quite different. At the Christening it is the role of the Godparents to take upon themselves a vow that the child will be brought up a Christian until it reaches the age of Christian Confirmation. As Jews began to live in multi-cultural communities, an informal role developed for the Kvatter and Kvatterin that of being an adult aside from the child֒s parents with whom it develops a special relationship as it grows up. How then does all this work in Liberal Judaism? Although we have no concept of womens impurity, it might be a nice idea to involve a Kvatter and Kvatterin in the Brit of a boy. They can help to bring the boy to the welcoming arms of his Grandfather or other person appointed as Sandak. It is a special honour to give to two people who will take an interest in the childҒs development. What might we do though if child is a girl? Liberal Judaism provides a ceremony to welcome a girl in to the Covenant with similar prayers to those with which we welcome a boy. You can find the ceremony on page 585 of Siddur Lev Chadash. You could appoint a Kvatter and Kvatterin to bring a daughter into the arms of her Sandak who can then hold her while the drop of wine is touched to her lips