Pictures from the Ceremony
Mommy and Daddy prepare Ryan for his Bris
In addition to the many family and friends that attended in person,
the following people were present via speaker phone:
• Great grandparents Aaron & Pearl Seidler in Baltimore
• Great grandmother Lillie Koplin in Rockville
• Great Aunt Janet & Uncle Paul in Rockville
• Godfather Gary Gensler in Rockville
• Cousin Sylvia Tulkoff in Baltimore
(Ryan was named after Sylvia's dad,
Morris Grossman)
Anh opens the ceremony with the candle lighting and mother's blessing
with 'Mohel' Mark Rubenstein looking on
Uncle Jason and grandparents Marcia and Joe bless Ryan
Great grandparents Aaron & Pearl Seidler and Lil Koplin
rejoice in Ryan's birth and bless him
via speakerphone from the East Coast
Ryan cries momentarily as the Mohel does his job,
but quickly falls asleep
Emmie Nguyen and Gary Gensler (via speakerphone) give
the godparents' blessing
Gregg (Stephen's best friend) wishes Ryan a wonderful life
Ryan is wearing his great grandfather Aaron's talit at the end of the ceremony
Mazel Tov !!
People remember Kayla too
and bring her gifts
Click here to see Ryan's 2nd week
Ryan's Pedigree
Parents:
Stephen and Anh Seidler
Grandparents:
Joe and Marcia Seidler
Hein and Ngoan Nguyen
Living Great Grandparents:
Lillie Koplin
Thu Nguyen
Aaron and Pearl Seidler
Godparents:
Gary Gensler
Emmie Nguyen
Click here to see a list of Ryan's closest living relatives
Naming Your Jewish Baby
Click here to see Ryan's family Hebrew names
"With each child, the world begins anew."
(Ancient Jewish Saying)
Ashkenazic Jews (usually of Eastern or Central European descent) traditionally name their children after someone who has passed on, thereby honoring the memory of the departed.
Judaism places great importance on the naming of each new child. It is believed that the name of a person or thing is closely related to its essence.
When a parent gives a child a name, the parent is giving the child a connection to previous generations. The parent is also making a statement about their hope for who their child will become. In this way, the name carries with it some identity for the child.
According to Anita Diamant in What to Name Your Jewish Baby, "Like Adam's appointed task of giving names to all living things in Eden, naming is an exercise of power and creativity." Many parents today put a great deal of thought and energy into deciding what to name their Jewish baby.
Hebrew names started to compete with names from other languages early on in Jewish history. As far back as the Talmudic period, 200 B.C.E. to 500 C.E., many Jews gave their children Aramaic, Greek and Roman names.
Later, during the Middle Ages in Eastern Europe, it became customary for Jewish parents to give their children two names. A secular name for use in the gentile world, and a Hebrew name for religious purposes. Today, many American Jews give their children both English and Hebrew names.
