[Comments in brackets are based on my observations,and are not in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch]
On day 31 of a firstborn's life (if he was born naturally and neither parent is a Cohen or Levi) the Pidyon HaBen ceremony takes place - along with a festive meal.
The Cohen washes and says haMotzi over bread, starting the festive meal.
The father then holds the baby [bedecked in jewelry on a silver tray] and says to the Cohen:
"This is my firstborn son; he is the the first issue of his mother's womb and Hashem has commanded me to redeem him as it says in the Torah: "And those who must be redeemed, from the age of a month you are to redeem... five silver Shekel of the sanctuary..." (Numbers 18:16)
He then sets the baby down [on the table] in front of the Cohen, and the Cohen asks [rhetorically]:
"What do you prefer? Your firstborn son or the 5 Shekels you need to redeem him?"
The father then answers:
"I want to redeem my son, as we are commanded in the Torah, and here is the cost of his redemption"
While still holding the money [in Israel they have specially minted silver coins with the exact weight of a Biblical Shekel] the father says the Brachot:
While waving the money over the baby's head the Cohen says:
"This is instead of that; this is in exchange for that; this is pardoned because of that. May this son enter into life, into Torah and into fear of heaven. May it be Your will that just as he was redeemed so too shall he enter into Torah learning, marriage and doing good deeds."
The Cohen then adds the following classic blessings:
The Cohen then [hands the baby back to the father and] says the Bracha of HaGafen over a full cup of wine.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:4
- Danny
Wednesday, 19 Adar-I 5774
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