Is there any similar ceremony to a Shalom Zachor [customary celebration for the birth of a boy on the Friday night after birth] for the birth of a baby girl?

A shalom zachor, by definition, is a party to welcome the birth of a boy—the term means “welcome boy!” This party is held on the Shabbos/Friday night following the baby’s birth. For a baby girl there are different celebrations to welcome her birth, but not the exact same thing as for a boy. Among the Sefardim [Jews of Middle East extraction], there is a party called a “zeved habat” which, loosely translated, means something like “gift of the daughter.” This is not held on the Saturday after the baby’s birth, but at a later time. Depending on the country of origin, various Sefardi communities will have this party either on a Saturday morning or a weekday evening; in the synagogue, at home, or even a catering hall; either 30, 40, or 80 days after the baby’s birth—customs vary.

In Ashkenazic communities (Jews of European extraction), an almost universal custom is for the parents to sponsor a “kiddush” in the synagogue, to express their gratitude for the birth of a new daughter.

You didn’t ask why there is a shalom zachor for boys, while a girl’s birth is celebrated differently. But I will attempt to give a possible answer. Please bear in mind that this explanation is speculative, and not necessarily written in stone!

A boy is going to enter the Covenant of Abraham on his eighth day. Meanwhile, on the first Sabbath after his birth, he is not yet formally a member of the Covenant. Therefore, he needs some extra Heavenly protection. This is provided for him by virtue of people coming together, making blessings on food, saying words of Torah, and congratulating the new parents and wishing them good fortune. In other words, the baby boy needs a Shalom Zachor!

In contrast, a girl is part of the Covenantal community as soon as she is born, with no further operation or ritual necessary.

Also, a girl is often named in the synagogue on the first day that there is a Torah reading—the first Monday, Thursday or Sabbath after her birth. Alternatively, a boy is not named until his circumcision, a full 8 days after his birth. In Jewish tradition, a person’s name has great mystical significance. When we pray for a person, we use his Hebrew name and his mother’s Hebrew name. When prayers are said for a baby boy who has not yet been named, we just pray for “Tinok ben.......”—”Infant son of _________”—using his mother’s name but just calling him “Baby.” A prayer without a name does not seem to have the same force as a prayer with the person’s Hebrew name, hence another reason that a baby boy needs extra “guarding” during his first week.

I would also say that, due to the pain of the baby, the parents dread, or at least feel a little anxious about, the upcoming circumcision—even while they rejoice and look forward to it. Therefore, the shalom zachor lifts their spirits and also sends extra blessings (as I mentioned above) to the new baby before his circumcision takes place.

If you are expecting a baby or have recently had one, I would like to wish you and your husband congratulations, and much joy and pleasure in your new arrival.

Toby Katz