What to write on a pidyon haben invitation
A joyful but uncommon ceremony: the wording has to invite and explain at once, because many guests have never heard of it.
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The pidyon haben, literally “redemption of the son,” is a ceremony held on the 31st day of a baby’s life when several precise conditions are met: the child is a boy, he is his mother’s firstborn (peter rechem, the one who “opens” the womb), he was born by natural delivery (vaginal birth; whether a birth by cesarean section qualifies is debated among rabbinic authorities, so check with your rabbi if that is your case), and the mother is not from a family of Kohanim or Levites. According to most customs, the father is not a Kohen or a Levi either. It is this combination of conditions that makes the pidyon haben relatively rare: many families never encounter it, either because the child is not a firstborn in the mother’s sense, or because one of the parents is of Kohen or Levi descent.
During the ceremony, a Kohen (a descendant of the priestly line) symbolically “redeems” the baby from his parents in exchange for five silver coins (traditionally specific coins, sometimes replaced by their equivalent in local currency according to community custom). The mood stays festive, and a festive meal (seudat mitzvah) often follows the ceremony.
Why explain a little, on the invitation itself
Unlike a wedding or a bar mitzvah, the pidyon haben is not familiar to all your guests, even among observant Jewish friends and family. A brief line of explanation on the invitation (“a traditional ceremony celebrating our firstborn”) helps guests understand what they are coming to celebrate, without having to ask.
What the invitation should include
- The baby’s first name (and his Hebrew name, if you mention it)
- A brief explanation of what a pidyon haben is, for guests who do not know
- The date (the 31st day of life, often recalculated with a rabbi) and the time
- The place
- A note that a festive meal follows the ceremony, if that is the case
Example wordings
With joy and gratitude, David and Sarah Sasson invite you to the pidyon haben (redemption of the firstborn) of their son [First name] a traditional ceremony marking the 31st day of his life, in which a Kohen symbolically redeems him. On [date] at [time] [Venue], [address] A festive meal will follow the ceremony.
Pidyon haben of [First name] Rosenthal [Date] at [time] [Venue] With [name of the Kohen] officiating, we will be glad to have you with us.
Thirty-one days after his birth, our son [First name] will be “redeemed” according to tradition, a rare ceremony that we are happy to share with you. [Date], [time] · [venue] Followed by a meal with family and friends. Come celebrate this moment with us.
Pidyon Haben · [First name] Amsalem [Date] · [time] · [venue] A small ceremony, a big moment.
בס״ד Mr. and Mrs. Sharabi are delighted to invite you to the pidyon haben (redemption of the firstborn) of their son Ariel ben Yaakov on [date] at [time] [Venue], [address] A festive meal will follow the ceremony.
We are delighted to invite you to the pidyon haben of our son [First name], the firstborn of the family. The ceremony will be led by [name of the Kohen] on [date] at [time], [venue]. RSVP appreciated to plan the meal: [link]
Honorifics
The baby’s Hebrew name is said “X ben (son of) Y” (בן), Y usually being the father’s name: for example “Ariel ben Yaakov”. The Kohen who performs the redemption is generally named followed by “Cohen,” or by his title if he is a rabbi (“Rav” or “Rabbi”). If a Kohen grandparent officiates, an affectionate mention (“our grandfather [first name], Cohen”) personalizes the wording without hurting its clarity. If you have any doubt about whether your own situation is eligible (a cesarean birth, the exact lineage of the grandparents), consult your rabbi before writing the invitation: it is not a question of wording but of real eligibility for the ceremony.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Organizing a pidyon haben without first checking the eligibility conditions with a rabbi (the mother’s firstborn, natural delivery, no Kohen or Levi lineage on either side): a mistake here is not only a matter of wording.
- Not explaining the ceremony at all, assuming every guest knows it: many will discover the rite on the spot, with not a word of explanation on the invitation.
- Forgetting to give the exact date of the 31st day, which does not necessarily fall on a convenient weekday: guests need it to plan, especially if it falls on a Friday or the eve of a holiday.
- Leaving out the name of the officiating Kohen, when he plays the central role in the ceremony: an invitation to this rite is stronger for naming him, as you would name a wedding officiant.
Checklist: don’t forget
- The baby’s first name (and Hebrew name if used)
- A brief explanation of the rite for guests who are unfamiliar with it
- Exact date of the 31st day, and the time
- Place
- Name of the officiating Kohen
- Mention of the festive meal, if planned
- Prior confirmation of eligibility with a rabbi (before printing, not on the invitation)
What’s next?
An invitation true to your traditions.
In 4 languages, with Hebrew set the way it should be and replies tracked household by household.
Related pages
- Brit milah
What to write on a brit milah invitation
The date is set by the birth, not by you: seven ways to announce a brit milah with grace, in a matter of days.
- Sheva brachot
What to write to invite guests to a Sheva Brachot
One dinner, seven blessings, a different host family each night: here is how to announce it simply and clearly.
