Do I need a formal invitation to go to a bris?

No. Unlike most Jewish lifecycle events, a bris (brit milah) usually doesn't come with a formal invite — a phone call, text, or even a group chat announcement of the time and place counts as your invitation. If you were told, you're wanted there.

What do I wear to a bris?

Whatever you'd wear to a casual religious service — nothing formal. Women: a modest top and skirt or dress. Men: a kippah if you have one (a baseball cap works if you don't; the hosts usually have spares at the door). It's typically a short morning event and many guests come straight from home or work.

How much money do you give at a bris?

If you're giving cash, the common custom is a multiple of 18 ($18, $36, $54, $72...) — 18 is the numerical value of the Hebrew word chai, meaning life, so the gift becomes a small blessing for a long one. It's a beloved custom, not a religious requirement, and any thoughtful gift is appropriate.

What if the bris is on Shabbat?

If the bris is held on Shabbat, don't bring a physical gift with you to the synagogue — carrying isn't permitted on Shabbat in traditional practice. Bring it another day, mail it, or send a gift card/digital gift instead.

What to Bring to a Bris (Brit Milah) or Baby Naming

The custom, explained

A bris (also called a brit milah, Hebrew for "covenant of circumcision") is the ceremony where a Jewish baby boy is circumcised and formally given his Hebrew name, traditionally on the eighth day of his life. It marks his entry into the covenant between the Jewish people and God that goes back to Abraham. It's a happy, noisy, family event — not a solemn one. There's usually a mohel (a trained ritual circumcisor) who performs the brief ceremony, a few blessings, and then food. Lots of food.

Families with daughters mark the same milestone differently — with a baby naming (sometimes called a simchat bat, "celebration of a daughter," or zeved habat in some Sephardi communities) — a ceremony, often in synagogue, where the baby is given her Hebrew name. There's no set day for this one; families choose what works.

Good to knowBecause it happens on a fixed day after birth (not scheduled around anyone's calendar), a bris often comes together fast. Don't read a casual, short-notice invitation as a lesser one — it's just how this particular simcha (joyful occasion) works.

You almost certainly won't get a formal, printed invitation. A phone call, a text, or a group announcement with the time and place is your invitation. If someone told you, you're wanted there.

Practical etiquette

What to wear: Casual-religious, not formal. A modest top and skirt or dress for women; a collared shirt for men. Bring or borrow a kippah (head covering) if you're a man — hosts almost always have a basket of spares at the entrance.
When to arrive: Brises are usually held in the morning (there's a religious preference for as early in the day as possible) and are short — often 20-30 minutes of ceremony, then a festive meal (a seudat mitzvah). Arrive on time; the ceremony itself doesn't wait.
What to say: "Mazal tov!" ("congratulations," literally "good fortune") is always right, to the parents and grandparents alike.
Kids welcome: This is a family event — bring your children if the timing works for you.
One real exception: if the bris (or baby naming) falls on Shabbat, don't carry a physical gift with you to the synagogue — carrying items in public isn't permitted on Shabbat in traditional practice. Send it another day, or bring a gift card.

Common questions

How much money should I give?

If you're giving cash (a very normal choice, and gift cards are equally normal), the widely loved custom is a multiple of 18 — $18, $36, $54, $72, and so on. Eighteen is the numerical value of the Hebrew word chai (חי, "life"): each Hebrew letter carries a number, and the two letters in chai add up to 18. Giving in multiples of it turns a cash gift into a small blessing for a long life. It's a beloved custom, not a law — any amount, or any thoughtful non-cash gift, is completely appropriate.

Do I need to bring a "Jewish" gift?

No. Anything you'd bring to a baby shower works — a baby outfit, a soft toy, a board book. A Judaica gift (a Hebrew-name print for the nursery, a kiddush cup for future use) is a lovely option if you want one, but it's a preference, not an obligation.

Sources cross-checkedChabad.org ("What to Expect at a Brit Milah"), MyJewishLearning, and Reform Judaism's lifecycle guides agree on the core practice; the chai-multiple money custom is documented consistently across Chabad.org and Reform Judaism sources. Sephardi communities also mark this milestone but weave in additional local customs not covered exhaustively here — when in doubt, ask the host what's meaningful to their family.

Curated gift picks

Jewish-maker picks are flagged and listed first.

Jewish maker Personalized Hebrew-name nursery print — SweetBerriesArt Watercolor Hebrew-name art, custom-painted per baby, from a Tel Aviv artist who works with families on exact spelling and meaning. See the shop →
Jewish maker Ceramic mezuzah for the nursery — jenspotsandjudaica Wheel-thrown Judaica pottery from a Philadelphia studio potter, glazed with Jewish iconography. See the shop →
Engraved baby Kiddush cup A keepsake cup the child grows into using — a classic bris/baby-naming gift. Search on eBay →

The Shuk earns a small commission on purchases made through the links above, at no extra cost to you. We don't fabricate reviews or sales — see our curation criteria and full disclosure.

→ Try the gift finder to filter picks by budget and relationship.