Girl
In the Image of G-d
Our sages tell us that women and G-d are very much alike. Just as G-d creates
the world so do women create lives in this world. Just as G-d provides the
world with all its needs so does a mother provide her childs needs. One
could add, that just as G-d has an eye on all of us, so do our mothers.
It is they that continue the Jewish heritage, with the Jewish faith following
the mother.
Complete Girl
“Now Abraham was old, well on in his years, and G-d had blessed Abraham
with everything (Bakol)” (Genesis 24:1).
The Talmud states that “everything” is defined as the birth
of a baby girl. One may ask, “What association does ‘everything’
have to do with a girl?” The answer is everything! For from the birth
of a baby girl to her eventual marriage she creates wholeness and completion.
When she is born she makes a completion in the mitzvah placed on her father
to “be fruitful and multiply”. This mitzvah can only be fulfilled
when both a boy and girl are born.
As she gets older and marries she creates wholeness in herself and in her
husband. As the tradition is told, that Adam was created as both man and
woman and then separated. Therefore each man and woman is only half a body.
When she marries she is bonded with her missing half and now becomes complete.
Naming
The Talmud states that a Jewish girl is considered circumcised at birth
(Avodah Zarah 27a). Therefore, her soul enters her body immediately and
she needs a Jewish name. There are many customs on when to name her. Most
customs partake of the father giving the name by the Torah Reading. Some
say it is done at the first possible Torah reading while others say to it
is done at the Shabbat Torah Reading. It is customary to have a festive
meal after the baby naming.




