Ryan Thuc Seidler's
B'rit Milah (Bris)
April 14, 2003


Born: April 6, 2003 at 9:37pm
Ryan's Jewish calendar birthday is 4 Nissan 5763

Ryan's Hebrew Name:
Moshe Shim ben Schlomo Tov v'Anh

Ryan was given his Jewish names in honor of his
GG Uncle Morris 'Moshe' Grossman and cousin Samuel 'Shim' Koplin.

Morris Grossman's 90th Birthday Button
(click on the button to see pictures of Morris;


Click here to see Ryan's Bris Evite
Click here to learn more about the Jewish B'rit Milah (Bris) ceremony


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.