Because the Simchat Bat Ceremony is relatively new, there are many ways of celebrating it. This is just one example of a ceremony that includes welcoming the child (reception), praise and thanksgiving as well as blessings.
Simchat Bat Ceremony
Reception
The baby girl is brought in to the room where the family and guests are waiting. She is carried in turn by the women in the family as a symbol of the chain of generations. It is accepted to welcome her with verses from the Torah or by song.
Grandmother says: “Who is she that looks out like the dawn, fair as the moon, clear as the sun”(Song of songs 6:10).
“מִי זֹאת הַנִּשְׁקָפָה כְּמוֹ שָׁחַר, יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה, בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה”
Congregation sings: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God, we have blessed you from the house of God. (Psalms 118:26).
ברוך הבא בשם יהוה ברכנוכם מבית יהוה”, פרק קיח’, ספר תהילים
Praise and Thanksgiving
After the reception, it is customary to express gratitude at the wonders of birth.
Father says: A Psalm of thanksgiving. Shout unto Hashem, all the earth. Serve Hashem with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know ye that Hashem He is G-d; it is He that hath made us, and we our His, His people, and the flock of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; give thanks unto Him, and bless His name. For Hashem is good; His mercy endures for ever; and His faithfulness unto all generations. (Psalms 100)
מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה, הָרִיעוּ לַאֲדֹנָי כָּל הָאָרֶץ.עִבְדוּ אֶת אֲדֹנָי בְּשִׂמְחָה, בֹּאוּ לְפָנָיו בִּרְנָנָה.
דְּעוּ כִּי אֲדֹנָי הוּא אֱלֹהִים, הוּא עָשָׂנוּ, וְלוֹ אֲנַחְנוּ עַמּוֹ וְצֹאן מַרְעִיתוֹ. בֹּאוּ שְׁעָרָיו בְּתוֹדָה, חֲצֵרֹתָיו בִּתְהִלָּה. הוֹדוּ לוֹ, בָּרְכוּ שְׁמוֹ, כִּי טוֹב אֲדֹנָי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ, וְעַד דֹּר וָדֹר אֱמוּנָתוֹ.
Mother recites prayer upon the birth of a child
Blessings
It is customary to bless the girl with the traditional priestly blessing (Birkat Cohanim). Some people cover themselves and the baby in a prayer shawl.
A designated Cohen recites: “Make God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, the pillars of our people. May Hashem bless you and safeguard you. May Hashem illuminate His countenance for you and be gracious to you. May Hashem turn His countenance to you and establish peace for you.”
יְשִׂימֵךְ אֱלֹהים כְּשָׂרָה, רִבְקָה, רָחֵל וְלֵאָה יְבָרֶכְךָ/כֵךְ ה’ וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ/ךְ, יָאֵר ה’ פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ/יִךְ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ/ךְ,
יִשָּׂא ה’ פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ/יִךְ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ/לָך שָׁלוֹם.
Traditional Sephardic Zeved HaBat Blessings
Grandfather says:May Hashem bless the father and mother of the child, and may they merit to raise, educate her, and enlighten her wise, so that she will bring honor and tribute to her nation, and may Hashem her God be with her;
Grandmother says: May Hashem bless the tender and delicate child, and may her strength and heart be a trust to God, and may she merit to perceive the Divine Presence, when you return to Zion with joy;
Uncle says: May Hashem bless the community that rejoiced, that did justice in exultation, and reward their deeds doubly, and place them ever higher;
Aunt says: May Hashem redeem us an eternal redemption, in merit of those who observe His covenant honestly, to proclaim good tidings and consolations, to a nation dispersed and splintered among the nations;
Friend says: May Hashem who guided our steps until here, sanctify through us His name that is hidden, and shine upon us like the sun and like the diamond, His covenant shall be with us, bringing life and peace.
;הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת אֲבִי הַיַּלְדָה וְאִמַּהּ, וְיִזְכּוּ לְגַדְּלה וּלְחַנְּכה וּלְחַכְּמה,
לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאֶרֶת לְכָל עַמָּהּ וִיהִי יְיָ אֱלוהֶיהַ עִמַּהּ;
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַרַכָּה וְהַעֲדִינָה, וְיִהְיוּ יָדֵיהַּ וְלִבָּהּ לָאֵל אֱמוּנָה,
וְתִזְכֶּה לִרְאוֹת פְּנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה, בְּשׁוּבְךָ לְצִיּוֹן בְּרִנָּה;
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַקְהִילָּה אֲשֶׁר שָׂשׂו לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה בְּגִילָה,
וִישַׁלֵּם פָּעֳלָם וּמַשְׂכֻּרְתָּם כְּפוּלָה, וְיִתְּנֵם לְמַעְלָה לְמָעְלָה;
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִגְאָלֵנוּ גְּאוּלָּת עוֹלָמִים, בִּזְכוּת שׁוֹמְרֵי בְּרִיתוֹ הוֹלְכֵי תָּמִים,
וִיְבַשֵּׂר בְּשׂוֹרוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְנִחוּמִים, לְעַם אֶחָד מְפֻזָּר וּמְפֹרָד בֵּין הָעַמִּים
הָרַחֲמָן אֲשֶׁר כּוֹנֵן צַעֲדֵנוּ עַד הַלוֹם, יְקַדֵשׁ בָּנוּ אֶת שְׁמוֹ אֲשֶׁר בְְּעֵילוֹם,
וְיַאֵר אֲלֵינוּ כַּשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְיָהֲלוֹם, בְּרִיתוֹ תהְיֶה אִתָנוּ, הַחַיִּים וְהַשָּׁלוֹם