Jewish Moms: Who gets invited to Bris?

[MrsB2008]

My DH and I are having a Baby BOY and my parents are planning to host his Bris. They asked me who we want to invite and I wasn't sure.

Do you only invite family? close friends? how far did you extend the invite list?

thanks in advance!

[ZZsMama]

There's pretty wide variation in traditions on who and how many guests are at a bris. There's no minimum that you need, though it is a community kind of event, so its nice to have at least a small group representing your community. I'd think about who constitutes the community you'll be raising your son in. Also consider that you'll probably feel a bit overwhelmed and may not want to have people be an emotional drain on you. They should be there to support you and help welcome and celebrate your baby. You might take into consideration that brises generally happen at somewhat inconvenient times, (like weekday mornings) and many people will need to make a real effirt to be able to be there so not everyone you invite might make it even if you include a wide circle. It's pretty much up to you, no right or wrong answers.
Incidentally, traditionally, you don't "invite" people to a bris. You let them know when it is and if they can come they show up.

[merpk]

Originally Posted by MrsB2008

My DH and I are having a Baby BOY and my parents are planning to host his Bris. They asked me who we want to invite and I wasn't sure.

Do you only invite family? close friends? how far did you extend the invite list?

thanks in advance!

Yeah, I was going to say that last line of ZZs' ... you *don't* invite people to a bris. And while it's usually in the a.m., well, that's not a hard&fast rule. There are many communities where minkha (afternoon) time is common ...

B'sha'a tova (sending hopes that things should happen at the right time) ...

[MrsB2008]

Thank you ladies! I really appreciate the feedback and info. I forgot to consider that it may happen at an inconvenient time for other people. so we basically just go about it and let people know, if they come, they come.

Thanks

[smeisnotapirate]

My son's was at 2:30pm on a Wednesday. I asked our rabbi to include the time of the bris with the announcement that he sent out to the congregation to tell everyone we'd had DS, and he was more than happy to oblige.

Forgive the odd comparison, but it's a bit like a funeral. You don't invite people, people just come. If there's someone you'd like to come, you can mention something to them, but in general it's a word-of-mouth thing. I'd include it in any announcements you send out announcing his birth, including family e-mails and calling friends so it gets around.

[imnottelling]

The first one we made was a Sunday morning. Nice turn out
The second one we made was a Weds. afternoon -- afternoon being because we weren't sure in the morning time if his bilirubin was down enough to make a bris (mohelim are very strict about the baby not being yellow, even if medically the jaundice is not a problem -- halacha is very clear that a baby must be healthy to do a bris on)...so we made a bris 3 hours after we got the go ahead. Turn out was scant