Thirty-day-old infant, grandson of Rabbi Eliezer Rozenblum of the Nadvorna Hasidic sect, is seen during his "Pidyon Haben" ceremony at a synagogue in Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, on March 20, 2014. The Pidyon Haben, or redemption of the first-born son, is a mitzvah in Judaism whereby a Jewish firstborn son is redeemed by use of silver coins from his birth-state of sanctity. The redemption is attained by giving five silver coins to a Kohen (a patrilineal descendant of the priestly family of Aaron). Based on the commandments intended to fix in the people's memory the miraculous exodus from Egypt, including the miracle of the "Plague of the Firstborn," the Torah states that all male firstborns born in an Israelite household , the firstborn of man, pure beast, and donkey, are sanctified by God. It is customary then to bedeck the baby to be redeemed with jewelry. At the end of the ceremony, the Kohen blesses the child with Brichat Kohenim, which means priestly blessing. (Xinhua/Gil Cohen Magen)
Thirty-day-old infant, grandson of Rabbi Eliezer Rozenblum of the Nadvorna Hasidic sect, is seen during his "Pidyon Haben" ceremony at a synagogue in Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, on March 20, 2014. The Pidyon Haben, or redemption of the first-born son, is a mitzvah in Judaism whereby a Jewish firstborn son is redeemed by use of silver coins from his birth-state of sanctity. The redemption is attained by giving five silver coins to a Kohen (a patrilineal descendant of the priestly family of Aaron). Based on the commandments intended to fix in the people's memory the miraculous exodus from Egypt, including the miracle of the "Plague of the Firstborn," the Torah states that all male firstborns born in an Israelite household , the firstborn of man, pure beast, and donkey, are sanctified by God. It is customary then to bedeck the baby to be redeemed with jewelry. At the end of the ceremony, the Kohen blesses the child with Brichat Kohenim, which means priestly blessing. (Xinhua/Gil Cohen Magen)
