Benny Brackman

We take great pleasure in inviting you to the Upshernish -Third Birthday Celebration of our dear son

Benny 

Monday, August 7, 2006 - Av 13, 5766 from 5-8pm at Judaism in the Foothills Center - 3959 Ponderosa Lane, Evergreen.

Buffet Dinner Will Be Served. Please RSVP at 303-679-0613 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . We Look Forward to Greeting You - Rabbi Levi and Sheindy Brackman

Upshernish -The Awareness & Consciousness of a Jewish Child

At the age of three a child can think in sentences, comprehend a story, and most importantly, the child becomes aware of his own identity and that of the people around him. As he reaches this stage of conceptual development, his Chinuch (education) becomes of paramount importance. From this time onward, he takes a participatory role in his own development.

The Age of 3

The Torah states Man is compared to a tree, as he and the tree both grow from a small seed, reach maturity, bear fruit and extend branches. In light of this, we symbolically apply the laws of a tree to man. During the first three years of a tree's life, its fruits are forbidden to be cut. Similarly, the age of three also represents the formal beginning of a child's Torah and Mitzvot education.

An Upshernish

For a boy, the celebration that marks this new phase of his life, is called an Upshernish - his first haircut. Until this age, his hair grows untouched. At the Upshernish his hair is cut, but his Peyos (sidelocks) remain. Similarly, from this time onward, the child is trained to wear a Yarmulka (Kippa or Skullcap) and Tzitzis (Fringes).

A Celebration

The purpose of this practice is similar to one wearing a uniform to proclaim his identity. So too, the Peyos, Yarmulka and Tzitzis reminds a boy that he is part of something larger than himself. While the Yarmulka remind him that G-d is above him, the Tzitzis remind him - and others - of his responsibility to the Torah. In a very tangible and obvious way, he expresses his commitment to his Jewish heritage ... an occasion that calls for celebration.

-- L'Chaim! - To Life!