Welcoming a New Baby

There is no greater joy on earth than giving birth to a healthy baby. That moment when life bursts forth from the womb is probably the closest we, as human beings, can get to the Divine. And for God-fearing peoples all over the world, it is a time of thanksgiving, time to offer joyous prayers to God for His wonderful gift to us, the parents, grandparents and the entire family circle of this new baby.

Sondra Oster Baras, an Orthodox Jew who has devoted her life to reaching out to Christians all over the world to bless Israel, shares some of the Jewish customs surrounding the birth of a new baby, particularly those with a Biblical basis, with her Christian friends. And Kimberly Troup, Christian Zionist director of CFOIC Heartland’s US office, and Tommy Waller, Christian Zionist director of HaYovel, share Christian customs, including differing approaches to infant Baptism, naming, and Christening. And all three confront a painful episode in Jewish history in which infant Baptism became the foundation of a particularly horrific act of Anti-Semitism.

Watch this video and pass it on to your friends!

Episode 16: Welcoming a New Baby

If there is a topic you would like to see Sondra and Tommy discuss in a future episode, please let us know. Send us your thoughts and questions at ASK@HAYOVEL.COM.

There is nothing like the birth of a new baby to remind us how vulnerable we all are. Of course, the newborn infant is particularly dependent on his or her parents for every aspect of life, but in reality, aren't we all newborn infants in one way or another? Aren't we all vulnerable? But in Israel, vulnerability has an all too immediate meaning as isolated communities face the dangers of terrorist infiltration almost daily.

Click here to support the people of Barkan, as they struggle to ensure the safety of their children!