A pidyon haben (פדיון הבן, "redemption of the firstborn son") is the mitzvah of redeeming a firstborn boy from a kohen with five silver coins. It is done when the baby is 30 full days old, on day 31, and it is followed by a seudah. Whether a pidyon haben is needed depends on several halachic conditions, for example whether the baby is the mother's firstborn, how he was born, and whether either parent is from a kohen or levi family, so ask your rav first. Once the date is set, here is how to word the invitation.
What a pidyon haben invitation includes
- The heading: פדיון הבן.
- The opening line, such as בעזהשי"ת or ברוב שבח והודאה להשי"ת.
- The baby's name, which he received at his bris, with נ"י.
- The parents' names, often with the grandparents.
- The day, Hebrew date and time. A pidyon haben is not held on Shabbos or Yom Tov, so check the date with your rav.
- The hall or home with the full address.
Sample wording in Hebrew
ברוב שבח והודאה להשי"ת הננו מתכבדים להזמין
את כל קרובינו ידידינו ומכירינו להשתתף
בשמחת פדיון הבן
של בננו בכורנו ___ נ"י
שתתקיים אי"ה ביום ___ לחודש ___
בשעה ___
באולם ___
___ (address)
המצפים לקבל פניכם בשמחה
___ ומשפחתו
Sample wording in Yiddish
מיר לאדענען איין אלע קרובים און פריינט
צו דער שמחה פון פדיון הבן
פון אונזער בכור ___ נ"י
וואס וועט זיין אי"ה ___
אום ___ אזייגער
אין ___
___ (address)
Sample wording in English
"With thanks to Hashem, we invite you to the Pidyon Haben of our firstborn son ___, on Sunday, ___ Kislev, at 6:00 PM, at ___. We look forward to sharing our simcha with you."
The ceremony, briefly
At the pidyon haben the father presents his son to the kohen, the kohen asks the traditional question, and the father gives five silver coins and says the brachos. The kohen then blesses the child. Customs differ between families and communities. Some carry the baby in on a silver tray decorated with jewelry. Your invitation does not need to describe any of this; it only needs to bring the guests to the right place at the right time.
Tips
- Write the full date. A pidyon haben is on a fixed day, so write the Hebrew date and, if you like, the English date.
- Use the baby's name. Unlike a sholom zucher or vachnacht, the baby already has his name.
- Mention the seudah only if it is separate. If the meal is in another room or at another time, add a line for it.
Hebrew and English on one card
Many families send one card in Hebrew or Yiddish and a second in English for relatives and neighbors who don't read Hebrew. If you put both on one card, keep the Hebrew on top and the English as a short summary underneath: the simcha, the day, the time and the address. Names in English should be spelled the way the family spells them in daily life, which is often different from a word-for-word transliteration.
Sending it
Most guests now receive simcha invitations on WhatsApp. Send the small texting JPG to family groups first, then to the shul group, and print one copy for the shul notice board. If the details change, send the corrected card with a short line such as "updated time", so nobody keeps the old one.
JPG or PDF: which file do you need?
After you pay you get three files, each for a different job. The Small – for texting JPG is under 1 MB, so it goes through on WhatsApp and on picture messages (MMS) without turning blurry; many phone carriers limit picture messages to about that size. The Full quality JPG is 2550 px wide at 300 dpi, sharp enough to print at home. The PDF is print-ready at letter size and holds one flat image, so the print looks exactly like the preview. If you only send the card on phones, the small JPG is all you need; if you are going to a printer, bring the PDF.
| Use | Best file | Why |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp, text message (MMS) | Small JPG for texting | Under 1 MB, opens fast, stays sharp |
| Small JPG (or the PDF) | Small file, opens on any phone | |
| Print a few copies at home | Full quality JPG or PDF | 300 dpi, prints sharp |
| Printer or copy shop | Exact letter page size | |
| Shul notice board | Print once, pin it up | |
| Animated card (designs that have one) | GIF or small GIF | Moves when it opens on a phone |
Making your invitation on a phone, step by step
- Open the site and tap your simcha, for example Sholom Zucher or Tenoyim.
- Tap the design you like. The card appears on top, the form underneath.
- Type the details. The card updates as you type, so you can see exactly where each line falls.
- Tap the order button under the card, then pay.
- After paying, download your three files: the PDF, the full-quality JPG and the small JPG for texting.
Make it now
On MazelTovInvite the Pidyon Haben design asks only for what belongs on the card: day, time, place, address, parents and grandparents. The heading פדיון הבן is fixed by the design. For $15 you download a print PDF, a full-quality JPG and a small JPG for texting.
More sample wording in lashon kodesh
A fuller version, with the seudah and the grandparents, in the style many chassidish families use:
ברוב שבח והודאה להשי"ת אשר זיכנו לקיים מצות
פדיון הבן
בבננו בכורנו ___ נ"י
הננו מתכבדים להזמין את כל קרובינו, ידידינו ומכירינו
להשתתף בשמחתנו, אשר תתקיים אי"ה
ביום ___ פרשת ___, ___ לחודש ___ תשפ"_
הפדיון בשעה ___, ולאחריו סעודת מצוה
באולם ___, ___ (address)
המצפים לקבל פניכם בשמחה
ההורים: ר' ___ הי"ו וזוגתו תחי'
הסבים: הרה"ח ר' ___ הי"ו · הרה"ח ר' ___ הי"ו
A shorter card for a pidyon haben at home:
פדיון הבן
של בננו בכורנו ___ נ"י
ביום ___, ___ לחודש ___ · בשעה ___
בביתנו ___
___ (address)
Some families also write who the kohen will be. This is a matter of family custom and is not needed on the card, but if you add it, it usually reads:
More sample wording in Yiddish
מיט א הארציגן דאנק צום אייבערשטן
לאדענען מיר הערצליך איין אלע קרובים און פריינט
צו דער שמחה פון
פדיון הבן
פון אונזער בכור ___ נ"י
וואס וועט זיין אי"ה זונטאג, ___ לחודש ___
דער פדיון אום ___ אזייגער, דערנאך א סעודת מצוה
אין זאל ___, ___ (address)
מיר ווארטן אייך מיט פרייד
___ און משפחה
More sample wording in English
With gratitude to Hashem
we invite you to join us at the
Pidyon Haben
of our firstborn son ___
Sunday, ___ Kislev
Pidyon at 6:00 PM, followed by a Seudas Mitzvah
at ___, ___ (address)
___ and ___ ___
Grandparents: ___ · ___
Line by line: what each phrase means
- ב"ה / בס"ד / בעזהשי"ת — the opening. Use whatever your family puts on all its cards.
- אשר זיכנו לקיים מצות פדיון הבן — "who gave us the merit to fulfill the mitzvah of pidyon haben". A pidyon haben is a mitzvah many people never see, so families like to mention the zechus.
- בננו בכורנו ___ נ"י — "our son, our firstborn, ___". Here the baby has his name, so it goes on the card with נ"י.
- הננו מתכבדים להזמין — "we are honored to invite", the formal invitation.
- אשר תתקיים אי"ה — "which will take place, im yirtzeh Hashem". The word שמחה is feminine, so תתקיים.
- ___ לחודש ___ — "the ___ of the month of ___", the Hebrew date. On a pidyon haben the date matters, because the day is set by halacha.
- הפדיון בשעה ___ — "the pidyon at ___". Write the time of the ceremony itself, since many guests come for that part.
- סעודת מצוה — "a mitzvah meal". A pidyon haben is followed by a seudah, so many cards mention it.
- ע"י הכהן — "by the kohen". Optional; see above.
- המצפים לקבל פניכם בשמחה — "who look forward to greeting you with joy", before the names.
Writing the date: why it matters more here
For a sholom zucher, everyone knows it is "this Friday night". A pidyon haben is different: it is on a fixed day, usually day 31 after the birth, and it is not held on Shabbos or Yom Tov. If that day falls on Shabbos or Yom Tov, it is usually done afterwards, and your rav will tell you exactly when. Once the day is set, write it in full so nobody has to guess:
- The weekday: ביום א' (Sunday), ביום ב' (Monday), and so on; in Yiddish זונטאג, מאנטאג, דינסטאג, מיטוואך, דאנערשטאג.
- The parsha of the week: פרשת ___. During the week, the parsha is the one that will be read on the coming Shabbos.
- The Hebrew date in letters: כ"ה לחודש כסלו or simply כ"ה כסלו. Many families add the year: תשפ"ז.
- The English date, on an English card or line: Sunday, December 6.
Count the days carefully with your rav, or with a luach, and check the date twice before you send the card. Since a Jewish day begins at nightfall, a pidyon haben held after dark already belongs to the next Hebrew date. If yours is in the evening, your rav will tell you which evening is right, and the Hebrew date on the card should match it.
Time and seudah wording
A pidyon haben is often held in the late afternoon or evening, so that people can come after work, and the seudah follows right after. Some families make it in the morning after Shacharis. Common time lines:
| Wording | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| הפדיון בשעה 6:00 | The pidyon at 6:00 | When the ceremony has a set time |
| ולאחריו סעודת מצוה | Followed by a mitzvah meal | When the seudah is right after, same place |
| קבלת פנים 5:30 · הפדיון 6:15 | Reception 5:30, pidyon 6:15 | Larger simchas in a hall |
| אחר תפילת שחרית | After Shacharis | A morning pidyon in shul |
| דער פדיון אום 6 אזייגער | The pidyon at 6 o'clock (Yiddish) | Yiddish cards |
| Pidyon at 6:00 PM | English | English cards; add "followed by a Seudas Mitzvah" |
The hall or home line
Because a pidyon haben comes with a seudah, many families hold it in a hall, a shul's simcha room, or a large home. Write the place the way people know it, then the street address in English letters:
- באולם ___ — in the ___ hall.
- באולם השמחות דביהמ"ד ___ — in the simcha hall of the ___ shul.
- בביתנו / בבית הורינו — at our home / at our parents' home.
- For a hall, add the entrance or floor if the building has more than one hall.
Titles and honorifics
Titles on a pidyon haben card follow the same pattern as on other baby-boy cards, with one addition: the kohen, if you name him, is usually written with הכהן after his name.
| Title | Full form | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| נ"י | נרו יאיר | The baby, after his name: ___ נ"י |
| ר' | רבי | Before an adult man's name |
| הרה"ח | הרב החסיד | Before a father's or grandfather's name, in chassidish style |
| מו"ה | מורנו הרב | Before a man's name, often with ר' |
| הי"ו | ה' ישמרהו ויחייהו | After a living adult man's name |
| שליט"א | שיחיה לאורך ימים טובים אמן | After a Rav's or Rebbe's name, or an elderly grandfather in some families |
| הכהן | the kohen | After the kohen's name, before הי"ו: ר' ___ הכהן הי"ו |
| תחי' | תחיה | After a woman's name: וזוגתו תחי' |
| ה"ה | הלא הוא / הלא המה | "that is", before naming someone: ה"ה הרה"ח ר' ___ |
Use the same titles the family used on the bris card, so the two cards look like a set. One title before the name (ר' or הרה"ח ר') and one after (הי"ו or שליט"א) is plenty.
The grandparents' lines
A pidyon haben is a rare simcha, and grandparents are especially proud. Most cards include them, usually on one or two lines:
הסבים: הרה"ח ר' ___ הי"ו · הרה"ח ר' ___ הי"ו
If great-grandparents are alive, some families add a small line with הסבים רבא. If a grandparent is no longer alive, many families leave that name off a simcha card and some write it with ע"ה or ז"ל; follow what your family did before.
A few customs families mention
Customs around a pidyon haben differ, and none of them need to be on the invitation. Still, families sometimes ask about them when planning the card:
- The silver tray. In many families the baby is carried in on a silver tray decorated with jewelry, a sight guests love to see. Some designs show a tray or coins in the artwork.
- Garlic and sugar. In some communities, small pieces of garlic and sugar are placed on the tray and given out to guests afterwards. It is a custom, not a requirement.
- Morning or evening. Some families prefer the pidyon in the morning after davening, others in the evening with a larger seudah. The card simply follows what you decide.
Common mistakes
- Sending before the rav confirms. Whether a pidyon haben is needed and on which day are questions for your rav. Send the card only after he confirms.
- A wrong Hebrew date. Count carefully, and remember that an evening event belongs to the next Hebrew date.
- A day that falls on Shabbos or Yom Tov. The pidyon is not held then; the date moves, and the card must show the new date.
- Leaving out the baby's name. Unlike earlier baby-boy cards, here his name belongs on the card.
- No seudah line. Guests want to know whether to come hungry, and whether to stay after the ceremony.
- Hall without details. In a building with several halls, add the hall's name or floor.
The pidyon haben card at a glance
| Part | Example | Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | ב"ה | Usual |
| Heading | פדיון הבן | Yes (built into our designs) |
| Thanks | ברוב שבח והודאה להשי"ת | Usual |
| The baby | בננו בכורנו ___ נ"י | Yes |
| Day and date | ביום א' פרשת ___, כ"ה כסלו | Yes |
| Time | הפדיון בשעה 6:00 | Yes |
| Seudah | ולאחריו סעודת מצוה | Usual |
| Place | באולם ___ + address | Yes |
| Kohen | ע"י הכהן ר' ___ הכהן הי"ו | Optional |
| Parents and grandparents | ההורים / הסבים | Yes / usual |
Full checklist
- Your rav confirmed that a pidyon haben is needed and set the day.
- A kohen has agreed to come, and the time works for him.
- Weekday, parsha and Hebrew date written and checked.
- Time of the pidyon, and the seudah line.
- Hall or home, with full address and entrance.
- The baby's name spelled as given at the bris, with נ"י.
- Parents' and grandparents' names and titles, the same as on the bris card.
- English version or line, if needed.
- Preview checked on your phone; JPG sent to the groups, PDF printed for the shul board if you like.
Related guides
- Vachnacht invitation wording
- Sholom Zucher invitation wording
- Yiddish & Hebrew invitation abbreviations
More complete samples for different situations
Baby named after a grandparent (lashon kodesh)
By the pidyon haben the baby has his name, and some families like to mention whom he is named after. It is optional; many cards give only the name with נ"י.
הננו מתכבדים להזמינכם להשתתף בשמחת
פדיון הבן
של בננו בכורנו ______ נ"י
הנקרא על שם זקנו הרה"ח ר' ______ ז"ל
אשר יתקיים אי"ה ביום ______ פרשת ______, ______ לחודש ______ תשפ"ז
בשעה ______ באולם ______
ולאחריו סעודת מצוה
ההורים: ר' ______ הי"ו וזוגתו תחי'
An evening pidyon, in Yiddish
מיט גרויס פרייד לאדענען מיר אייך איין צום
פדיון הבן
פון אונזער בכור ______ נ"י
אי"ה זונטאג צו נאכטס, פרשת ______
אום ______ אזייגער, אין זאל ______
נאכדעם א סעודת מצוה
______ און משפחה
Remember that an evening pidyon already belongs to the next Hebrew date, so the Hebrew date on this card is Monday's date. Ask your Rav which evening is right.
At the grandparents' home, in English
With gratitude to Hashem
we invite you to the
Pidyon Haben
of our firstborn son, ______
Sunday, ______ (Hebrew date) / ______ (English date)
at ______ PM
at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. ______
______ (address)
Seudas mitzvah to follow
A short WhatsApp notice
פדיון הבן פון אונזער זון ______ נ"י
אי"ה זונטאג 7:30 ביינאכט
______ (address)
מיר וועלן זיך זייער פרייען!
A simple timeline, from birth to pidyon
This table shows how the weeks usually go, so you know when to make each card. It is common practice, not a ruling: the exact pidyon day and whether a pidyon is needed are for your Rav.
| When | What | Card |
|---|---|---|
| First Friday night | Sholom zucher | Same week, short notice |
| Night before the bris | Vachnacht | A day or two ahead |
| Day 8 (if the baby is well) | Bris; the baby is named | Often by message |
| Day 31, not on Shabbos or Yom Tov | Pidyon haben | About 1–2 weeks ahead |
Because the pidyon has a fixed date known weeks ahead, it is the one baby-boy simcha where you have time to send a proper card. For the earlier cards, see our bris invitation wording guide, and for timing tips, our guide on when to send simcha invitations.
Make your Pidyon Haben card on our site, step by step
- Pick the design. Open the Baby Boy designs and tap the one you like. The heading is already part of the picture, so you never type it.
- Type each box. Every box has a label that says what it is for: the day and date, the time, the place, the address, the parents and the grandparents. You can type in Hebrew, Yiddish, English or a mix. You can also tap a line on the card to jump straight to its box.
- Choose a font and size. Each box has its own font picker and A− / A+ buttons. Many families make the baby's name the biggest line, because this is the first card that carries it.
- Check the preview. The card updates as you type. Look at it once at phone size, because that is how most guests will see it. The preview has a watermark; the paid files do not.
- Place the order and pay. The price is $15. On designs that have an animated GIF version, you can add the GIF for a small extra.
- Download your 3 files. Right after paying you get a print PDF (letter size), a Full quality JPG for printing (2550 px wide, 300 dpi) and a Small – for texting JPG under 1 MB for WhatsApp, text messages and email. GIF orders also get the GIF and a small GIF. Save the page so you can download again later.
For how to send the small file to many people at once, see our guide to sending simcha invitations on WhatsApp or by text.
More mistakes to avoid
- A different spelling of the name than at the bris. The name was just announced at the bris; spell it on the card exactly the way the family wrote it in the bris announcement.
- Two dates that don't match. If you give both the Hebrew and the English date, check that they are the same day, especially for an evening pidyon.
- Forgetting the hall's entrance. Many pidyons are in a small hall or the back room of a shul. Write which door or which floor.
Frequently asked questions
When is a pidyon haben held?
When the baby is 30 full days old, on day 31, and not on Shabbos or Yom Tov. Ask your rav to set the exact day and whether a pidyon haben is needed.
Does the invitation use the baby's name?
Yes. The baby was named at his bris, so the invitation gives his name with נ"י.
Is the kohen's name written on a pidyon haben invitation?
It is not needed. Some families add a line such as ע"י הכהן ר' ___ הכהן הי"ו; many leave it off.
How do I write the time if there is a seudah?
Write the time of the pidyon itself and add a line such as ולאחריו סעודת מצוה (followed by a mitzvah meal).
What if day 31 falls on Shabbos?
A pidyon haben is not held on Shabbos or Yom Tov, so it is moved to a later day. Ask your rav for the exact day and put that date on the card.
Should the Hebrew date be on the card?
Yes. Because a pidyon haben is on a fixed day, most cards give the weekday, the parsha and the Hebrew date, such as כ"ה כסלו.
How early should I send a pidyon haben invitation?
Common practice is about one to two weeks before, once your Rav has confirmed the day. A short reminder the day before helps.
Which file do I send on WhatsApp?
Send the Small – for texting JPG. It is under 1 MB, so it opens fast and stays sharp on WhatsApp and picture messages. Print the PDF for the shul board.
Can I write whom the baby is named after?
Yes, if you like. A line such as הנקרא על שם זקנו ר' ______ ז"ל is used by some families; many leave it off and give only the name.
Should I write בכורנו on the card?
Many families write בננו בכורנו (our son, our firstborn), since the pidyon is for a firstborn. It is optional; בננו alone is also fine.