I started talking about the subject of conversion the other day. Many religions have some sort of an "initiation" ritual or conversion - Judaism is no different. When a couple adopts a child who is not born to Jewish birth parents, the topic of converison comes up. So why is this an issue at all? Why do people feel so strongly one way or another? And at what point does this sticky subject get, well, sticky?

It comes down to the question of "Who's a Jew?" and the fact that we Jews can't seem to get to a universal agreement that every movement is okay with. The more traditional movements - the Orthodox... more

So you're Jewish and adopting. Great! Now what about the sometimes sticky topic of converting? To some of you out there, whether or not you will convert your child to Judaism (assuming you are not already adopting a Jewish child) is a no-brainer. To others, it's something you may have considered or are on the fence about, and to others still the topic of conversion has not yet come up. So, I'm bringing it up.

To answer the question of "why convert?" we must first tackle the question of "who is a Jew?" In the Orthodox and Conservative movements, a Jew is someone who is born to a Jewish mother (or where both parents are Jewish) or someone who has converted under the... more

This came across my desk - thought I'd pass it along....it looks like a conference for parents and professionals as well as separate classes/ sessions geared for professionals.

Ametz Annual Conference - March 11, 2007 Infertility, Adoption and the Family, held at UJA - Federation 130 E. 59th St., New York City. For registration information, call 212-558-9949 or email ametz@jccany.org

Expected to attract several hundred prospective and current parents, as well as professionals working in the adoption field, the all day conference will offer a range of workshop sessions. This year's keynote speaker is noted... more

This was an interesting article published recently on Interfaithfamily.com a site that anyone involved in an interfaith or intermarried family should look at. It has some good resources, especially for families who find themselves in that situation.

I would hope - as I know we all do - that things have changed in the adoption world since Dina Beach Lynch was growing up, but it's still a perspective that we should keep in mind.

Cheese Blintzes: An Adoptee Discovers Her Jewish Roots By Dina Beach Lynch

The gray fireproof box stood on the top... more

This came across my desk - it may be helpful to some of you.

Jewswire.com - the global Jewish newswire service goes beta.

21 October 2006 - A new free service to help the Jewish community distribute its information through the internet and also get instant reaction has been beta launched at Jewswire.com (www.Jewswire.com).

Jewswire.com allows anyone sending out a press release of Jewish interest or containing something Jewish to distribute it online for free.

The new global service has been created by SomethingJewish Network owner JMT Ventures and being in beta mode, is also inviting users to offer their thoughts and comments on using the... more

I got this in the mail today...thought I'd pass it along. Good for anyone in the tri-state area or if you'll happen to be in North Jersey.

In honor of National Adoption Month, JFS of MetroWest Adoption Services presents an Information Seminar on Domestic Adoption Tuesday, November 14, 2006 7:00 - 8:00 pm Jewish Family Service of MetroWest 256 Columbia Turnpike, Suite 105, Florham Park, NJ 07932 Presenters: Jacki Lappen, Director of Networking for New Jersey, Vermont and New Hampshire Friends in Adoption Sheila N. Muster, LCSW, Director of Adoption Services Jewish Family Service of MetroWest

How do I become a parent? What... more

More about the new baby later, but I did want to post this valuable information. Before we decided to adopt through the state foster care system, we actually came close to going internationally to Guatemala for an adoption - we had submitted paperwork and were on our way but changed our minds. While we were on our way to adopting through Guatemala, we were scrambling to come up with the money to cover the fees associated with the international adoption. At the time, I found few resources to help me, and could only locate a Hebrew Free Loan Society in California, which didn't help. We ended up taking out a home equity loan, but if it was just a year earlier, we wouldn't have been in a position... more

The word "ohel" means tent, and implies a temporary dwelling. This obviously suits an organization by that name that helps place Jewish children in need of a foster home.

I just saw an advertisement recruiting for foster and adoptive parents for Ohel in New York. I'm not sure if they take people far out of the New York area, but it's probably worth a phone call. Although I've seen lots of fundraising campaigns for this organization, it's been a while since I've seen them actively recruiting for foster and adoptive parents. Ohel provides a service for Jewish children removed from a home by Children's Services and places them in a Jewish home, usually just as a foster situation, but... more

Avonlea asked a good question on a recent posting about the girls coming and going. Here it is:

How did you manage to adopt such a young child from fostercare? If you don't mind my asking.

When I explored the option it sounded like the only way you could do it was foster-adopt and I'm just not up for the risk of losing a child who is not legal free for adoption when they come into my home and heart.

It's a great question. You can actually adopt two types of kids through foster care. (Those who are legally free and fost-adopt) Anna was fost-adopt - meaning she was becoming available... more

So, the real reason that I haven't posted in a few days is that it is about 100 degrees outside, and about 110 degrees inside my house, with the hottest area being my computer desk - in the kitchen - where it also feels like 400 percent humidity. So, I've had the strength to get up, check email a few times a day, and mosey on back to my one air conditioned room - my bedroom. Anna's been sleeping on a few blankets folded on our floor - but the end is near! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The work on the house which has been rumored to be starting at some point this century is actually starting! Air conditioning here we come!

So. Here I am. Braving the heat to get one post... more