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Shaul stood, offering the blessing:
"Our G-d and G-d of our Fathers, sustain this woman in the Almighty's Torah and in His commandments and may her name in Israel be Atarah bat Sarah Imenu, the daughter of Sarah, our Mother. May she rejoice in the Torah, and exult in the commandments. Give thanks to G-d, for He is good and His kindness is to all eternity.
May Atarah bat Sarah Imenu, the daughter of Sarah, our Mother, grow to become great. So may she enter the Almighty's Torah, with His commandments and good deeds."
The Mohel stood to the side during Atarah's naming ceremony waiting as Josiah carried Aziel toward him as those gathered said, "Blessed be he that cometh."
Shaul walked through the gathering, bringing Atarah and Mark up to the front to stand beside Josiah as he declared, "I am here ready to perform the affirmative precept to circumcise my son, even as the Creator, blessed be he, hath commanded us, as it is written in the Law, And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations."
The silver-haired mohel took Aziel from Josiah's arms, placing him on a seat, "This is the throne of Elijah—may he be remembered for good!
For thy salvation, I have waited, O Lord. I have hoped, O Lord, for thy salvation; and have done thy commandments. I have hoped for thy salvation, O Lord. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. Great peace have they who love thy Law; and there is no stumbling for them. Happy is he whom thou choosest, and causest to approach that he may dwell in thy courts."
Atarah spoke with those gathered, "O let us be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, thy holy temple."
Shaul motioned for Mark to have a seat moments before the mohel placed Aziel on his grandfather's lap, removing his clothes so his private parts were exposed. The mohel carefully rubbed a numbing cream on it before pronouncing a blessing, "Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast sanctified us by thy commandments, and hast given us command concerning the Circumcision."
Within two minutes, Aziel was circumcised, his genitals already bandaged. It happened extremely fast, yet Aziel still turned away, reaching for Josiah, tears welling up in his eyes. He had wanted to be a Jew and talked of it often with his mother.
Josiah had told him this was a part of being a Jew but he still needed his Abba's comfort.
Josiah reached out and held the boy's hand with a wink, showing his pride in his son before continuing, "Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast sanctified us by thy commandments, and hast commanded us to make our sons enter into the covenant of Abraham our father."
Atarah blinked back tears, slipping her hand within Josiah's free hand, "Even as he has entered into the covenant, so may he enter into the Law, the nuptial canopy, and into good deeds," she joined with those gathered.
The mohel continued, "Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who createst the fruit of the vine.
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who from the womb didst sanctify Isaac the well-beloved didst set thy statute in his flesh, and seal his offspring with the sign of the holy covenant. On this account, O living God. our Portion and our Rock, give command to deliver from destruction the dearly beloved of our flesh, for the sake of the covenant thou hast set in our bodies. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who makest the covenant.
Our God and God of our fathers, preserve this child to his father and to his mother and let his name be called in Israel, Azrael the son of Levinski the Levite. Let the father rejoice in him that came forth from his loins, and the mother be glad with the fruit of her womb; as it is written, Let thy father and thy mother rejoice, and let her that bare thee be glad: and it is said, And I passed by thee, and I saw thee weltering in thy blood, and I said unto thee, In thy blood live. Yea, I said unto thee, In thy blood live. And it is said, He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations; the covenant which he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac, and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a statute, to Israel for an everlasting covenant. And it is said, And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his loving-kindness endureth for ever. This child Azrael, may he become great. Even as he has entered into the covenant, so may he enter into the Law, the nuptial canopy, and into good deeds."
Shaul passed Mark a glass of wine unaware that Mark was a recovering alcoholic. Mark drank of the wine ignoring the fact that his wife was shooting daggers at his back. Shaul then took the goblet and offered a sip to Azrael before passing the cup to his mother who touched it to her lips but didn't drink any due to her pregnancy. She then passed the cup to her brother-in-law.
Those who had gathered for the ceremony were led downstairs where tables had been set up for a small meal. They ate together, the conversations free from any foolishness and idle chatter.
The mohel checked Azrael's bandage and inquired to make sure he had used the washroom since. He gave some pain killers to Atarah to give to her son later, having already been given his first dose by the mohel. Atarah sat beside her husband at the table, her parents with her.
"Are you alright Azrael?"
Rivkah smiled at the young boy, pride shining in her eyes.
"Azrael?" Sheila focused more on Aziel's new name than on anything else Rivkah had said.
"His new name," Rivkah wondered how much of the ceremony they had picked up on.
It was getting late and the small dinner had come to an end. The mohel stood, getting everyone's attention as the conversations trickled to an almost abrupt end.
"Let us say grace."
Those still sitting at the tables replied, "Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever."
The mohel continued, "Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever. We will give thanks unto thy name in the midst of the Faithful: blessed are ye of the Lord."
Those gathered continued, "With the sanction of the awful and revered God, who is a refuge in times of trouble, the God girt with strength, the Lord mighty on high, we will give thanks unto thy name in the midst of the faithful: blessed are ye of the Lord.
With the sanction of the holy Law, pure and clear, which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded us to be an heritage, we will give thanks unto thy name in the midst of the faithful: blessed are ye of the Lord.
With the sanction of the priests and Levites, I will call upon the God of the Hebrews, I will declare his glory in every region, I will bless the Lord. We will give thanks unto thy name in the midst of the faithful: blessed are ye of the Lord.
With the sanction of those present, I will open my lips with song, yea, my bones shall declare, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. We will give thanks unto thy name in the midst of the faithful: blessed are ye of the Lord."
"You are a Jewess from now into eternity," Josiah murmured, his voice husky with emotion before turning to Azrael on his lap, "I am so proud of you, son."