[JonathanG]

My wife and I are Jewish and we would like (if possible) to adopt a Jewish child. Has anyone heard or worked with an agency that specializes in that? Thanks.
Jonathan

[JonathanG]

Thank you!

[jewishadoptionblog]

There aren't really any agencies that specialize in the adoption of Jewish children - I suppose thankfully there aren't a whole lot of Jewish children out there.

But here are a few ideas -

First try http://www.users.qwest.net/~jcan/ - the Jewish Children Adoption Network. It's not an agency, but rather a networking group. (My blog post on this group can be found here http://jewish.adoptionblogs.com/webl...option-network)

Try your local Stars of David chapter - http://www.starsofdavid.org/

and try your local Jewish Federation or Jewish Family Services.

Good luck, and keep us updated!

[sak9645]

Almost all of the Jewish children who are available domestically -- and there are very few -- have significant special needs.

Most Jewish families choose to adopt a child who was not born to a Jewish mother, either domestically or internationally, and to take the child through the simple conversion process.

Some Orthodox families actually prefer this approach, as the laws of mamzerut won't apply, regardless of the circumstances of the child's birth.

Sharon

[yael]

We have adopted 4 little girls, all born to Jewish mothers (and fathers, too). Yes, they all came to us with special needs. Two of our daughters have genetic disorders which will be lifelong. Our identical twins, though, most likely will overcome their challenges and live more usual lives--a surprise to their doctors and their birthmother who did not, indeed, expect this outcome!

I encourage everyone interested in adopting a Jewish child to consider parenting a child with special needs. It is very rewarding!
Yael

[hopeful_ima]

I learned recently from a workshop given by an orthodox rabbi that in terms of halacha, it is actually more complicated if you adopt a Jewish child.

[sak9645]

Yes, this is quite true. If you adopt a non-Jewish child, it doesn't really matter what the circumstances surrounding his/her conception were, or what the circumstances of his ancestors' conception were. You can convert the child to Judaism, and he/she will have all the rights of any other Jew.

If you adopt a Jewish child, and believe in traditional observance, it will be very important that you know the details of the child's conception and birth, and a good deal about the birth family. The reason has to do with the laws of "mamzerut" or bastardy.

Under Jewish law, the term "bastard" has a very specific meaning; it does NOT mean any child conceived outside of marriage. It refers specifically to a child conceived in adultery or incest. Such children are permitted to marry only non-Jews or converts, not born Jews. They also cannot become Orthodox rabbis, as I understand it. So if you adopt a Jewish child who is a "mamzer", you must understand that he/she will not have full participation in the Orthodox community.

Orthodox Jews believe that adultery does not relate only to the willful act of having sex with a person who is married to someone else. It can be accidental -- for example, if a person's Jewish divorce (get) was faulty, and thus the person was still married, from the Jewish perspective, when he/she entered into a second marriage. The child of that second marriage would be considered a mamzer.

Further, mamzerut extends through the generations. Perhaps the birthparents were married to each other, but one of the birthparents was descended from a mamzer. This could put the Jewish status of the child in doubt.

If you are traditionally observant, and are contemplating the adoption of a Jewish child, by all means consult a respected Orthodox rabbi, especially one who is an expert in this difficult point of Jewish law.

Sharon

[yael]

By all means consult a rav when you are adopting a Jewish child. But open adoptions have made adopting a Jewish child much easier.
Yael

[Rivkah]

Originally Posted by yael

We have adopted 4 little girls, all born to Jewish mothers (and fathers, too). Yes, they all came to us with special needs. Two of our daughters have genetic disorders which will be lifelong. Our identical twins, though, most likely will overcome their challenges and live more usual lives--a surprise to their doctors and their birthmother who did not, indeed, expect this outcome!

I encourage everyone interested in adopting a Jewish child to consider parenting a child with special needs. It is very rewarding!
Yael

Hi Yael,

which agency did you adopt your children through? thank you, Carole