What is a Hatafat Dam Brit?
הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית – Hatafat Dam Brit – is Hebrew for “drawing blood covenant.” It is a symbol of the covenant between Abraham and God. This transaction is not a conversion of Judaism, but rather, it is a commitment to the Abrahamic Covenant. A הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit can be useful when looking to acquire citizenship in the Land of Israel but does not guarantee it.
A Piece of History
Orthodox and Conservative Jewish movements require הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit in the traditional way, meaning that the blood is obtained from the circumcision site. However, on the other hand, reform rabbis may or may not require this specific way to do a הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit as necessary. In fact, some reform rabbis do not require circumcision or an immersion in a ritual bath, called a מִקְוֶה mikveh, to be a part of a הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit at all. These reform rabbis allow drawing a drop of blood from a finger-stick with a very fine needle as the symbol of the covenant.
Step One
Choosing a Jewish name is the first part in the process of a הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit.
Since one who undergoes הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit is not Jewish, they usually do not have Jewish parents. Therefore, one adds the name בֵּן אַבְרָהָם Ben Avraham, meaning “Son of Abraham,” to the end of his first or first and middle name in Hebrew. Having a Hebrew name is mandatory in Israel for any legal transactions, such as opening a bank account, signing a lease for an apartment, etc.
Step Two
Drawing a drop of blood is the final step in the הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit process and is followed by a series of both English and Hebrew prayers, in accordance to the connection a male is making within the Abrahamic Covenant.
What is a Brit Bat?
בְּרִית בַּת – Brit Bat – is Hebrew for “daughter of the covenant.” Same as the הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit, this transaction is not a conversion of Judaism, but rather, it is a commitment and a symbol of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Step One
Females in the בְּרִית בַּת Brit Bat ceremony typically choose either the term בַּת שֶרָה Bat Sarah, meaning “daughter of Sarah,” or בַּת רוּת Bat Rut, meaning “daughter of Ruth,” to add to the end of her first or first and middle Hebrew name. Having a Hebrew name is mandatory in Israel for any legal transaction she would like to take part in, therefore, it will be the first step she will take in order to acquire a בְּרִית בַּת Brit Bat.
Step Two
Although a female will not have to draw a drop of blood as a male does for a הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit transaction, she will have a series of Hebrew and English prayers said over her in accordance to the connection she is making with the covenant.
Hatafat Dam Brit vs. Brit Milah
בְּרִית מִילָה – Brit Milah – while similar in principle, is still very different from a הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit. One transaction (הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit) is through pricking the finger to obtain a drop of blood, while the other (בְּרִית מִילָה Brit Milah) is a ritual circumcision. Just as a הַטָּפַת דָם בְּרִית Hatafat Dam Brit does not make someone Jewish, a בְּרִית מִילָה Brit Milah does not make an individual Jewish either. A בְּרִית מִילָה Brit Milah is simply a ceremony that is only performed upon an eight day old male. The Hebrew word בְּרִית Brit means covenant, which is a pact or treaty between two people or entities. מִילָה Milah refers to the removal of the excess of foreskin through circumcision. This ritual circumcision is a symbol of our partnership with God. Being etched into the flesh of our physical bodies, this covenant of the בְּרִית מִילָה Brit Milah will never end or be forgotten.