What an amazing gift a new life is.  In the Jewish tradition, a new baby is not just a blessing, but also a new expression of God's grace on earth.  Jewish tradition teaches that each new life has the possibility of helping to bring about the Messianic time and so it is with great joy that we celebrate each and every new child.  

While baby boys have been welcomed into the Jewish family with brit milah (covenant of circumcision) since the time of Abraham, girls celebrations are relatively new.  Old or new, both are beautiful and both invite us to celebrate the gift of life.