OR
- A. Birth of a boy
After the birth of a son, as soon as the father hears about the birth, he should recite the blessing HaTov vehameitiv: ברוך אתה ה’ אלקינו מלך העולם הטוב והמטיב, “Blessed are You Hashem, King of the Universe, Who is good and grants goodness.”[1]
- B. Birth of a girl
After a girl is born, as soon as the father sees her, he should recite the blessing Shehechiyanu. [2]
- C. Notifying the Rebbe
Chassidim follow the custom of notifying the Rebbe immediately.[3]
- D. Kapitel Alef of Tehillim
The father should recite kapitel 1 of Tehillim.[4] He should continue doing so every day after Shacharis (together with the daily portion of Tehillim).[5]
- E. Birchas Hagomel
With regard to the recitation of the blessing HaGomel after the birth, see Section 9, subsection c.
[1]. The Alter Rebbe’s Seder Birchas HaNehenim, ch. 12, law 12. See also Likkutei Sichos, Vol. 24, p. 67; Sefer HaSichos 5748, p. 399.
[2]. See previous note.
[3]. See Sefer HaSichos 5688-5691, p. 3, et al.
[4]. See the Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rayatz, Vol. 1, p. 31. There, the Rebbe Rayatz states that reciting the kapitlech of Tehillim that correspond to the years of a child’s life calls forth assistance from Above that they will not be swayed from the Torah’s path.
[5]. Following the custom instituted by the Baal Shem Tov to recite the kapitel of Tehillim that corresponds to the year of one’s life (Sefer HaMinhagim, p. 17).
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