I vote for a synagogue. If you don't belong to a synagogue you still may be able to do it at one. Just call around or look on the websites. You might also want to try the DCJCC or another JCC.

We did ours at the temple and it was so easy - no clean up first of all, no worrying about the bathrooms being clean, no worries about my table being wobbly (which it was) Everyone we dealt with - the mohel, the people delivering the food, the synagogue, - this was routine for them. They knew what they were doing so a lot of pressure was taken off of us.

In addition to a table for food and drinks you are also going to need a separate table for the bris - we just didn't have enough space for both to fit comfortably.

Do it at shul-- you can escape when u need to, and u can always have the rabbi or janitor be the bad guy and shop everyone home!

I agree. Have it at home. We had both of ours at the military hospitals where the chaplains worked, and I was so tired, and felt like crapola. I was also still trying to learn this new baby's cues for eating and sleeping.

Also, buy something to wear specifically for the bris, like a large-size blouse. I didn't want to wear maternity clothes that announced "I'm still pregnant," but absolutely nothing else was really big enough to close around my belly.

A lot of people won't be able to make it on a weekday, anyway.

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone assume that you will be a disaster when he baby is eight days old? I had company by then, was up and out walking in the neighborhood and managed to look human, if fat....

This is not the same as throwing a bris. Try it.

Definitely home! You will be hormonal and the bris may make you even moreso. Most importantly, you are no going to want to put your sleepy/crying baby into a car seat to drive anywhere after. You'll want to have him in his bassinet in a cozy place where he can sleep (babies sleep a long stretch after the bris often, because of the wine and the bris itself). You may also want a quiet place to retreat to to nurse him right after.

I think you should have as many people as you want but be aware that you will not be your normal hostess self. Let your mom plan and arrange everything and be prepared to maybe just hide out in your room after for a while.

Hi OP. we have a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1200-square-feet apt and we held it in our apt. We had a total of 29 people, including 6 kids. It was at 1pm on a Friday. We pruposely only invited our immediate family and absolute closest friends.The bris is about your son and your family's religion. People don't care if they don't have seats, etc. It is a joyous occasion. Keep it on the small side, order platters from Bethesda Bagels (they deliver and are great), buy all your plates and cups, etc before the baby is born and just be well. Mazel Tov.

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone assume that you will be a disaster when he baby is eight days old? I had company by then, was up and out walking in the neighborhood and managed to look human, if fat....

have you had a bris for a DS? having "company" is not having a bris. it takes planning, it takes setting up, and it takes a LOT of emotional endurance.

OP i also vote for having it at home, if at all possible. try to keep the guest list small. we invited quite a few people but really did not have that many at all (can't remember the number, sorry) and could have made it work in a moderately-sized 2 bdrm.

congrats!

You can also do it at a temple or ask the mohel if he has any suggestions. Ask a friend if their building has a party room.

Why does everyone assume that you will be a disaster when he baby is eight days old? I had company by then, was up and out walking in the neighborhood and managed to look human, if fat....

Do it at your home. 8 days after your son is born you will probably not be in the mood or condition to go anywhere. You will not have slept for over a week. You will probably feel like crap and not be up for a party anywhere but at your place. Keep the guest list to close family.

At your home. If it's small that's all the more reason to limit the invite list to close family. Trust me you are NOT going to want a cast of thousands. You will be very happy with a small guest list.

At your home.

do it at your home; you will be exhausted, will probably not want to travel, and you really don't need a ton of people there. if it is a weekday people probably can't stay long, and they understand they are there for the ceremony and not for a real party.
just keep it simple is all i'm trying to say. mazel tov and ignore the inevitable posters who will try to talk you out of doing the bris at all.

Temple?

I'm trying to do a little advance planning for my soon-to-be born DS's bris. My 2 bed 2 bath apartment isn't big enough for more than a handful of people. It's too bad my condo bldg doesn't have a community room. I could use my parents' house but they live in Baltimore and I don't think my friends will travel that far on a weekday. Does anyone have any ideas on locations for the bris?? I'm hoping to bring in deli platters and sandwiches. Thoughts??