So, I was going to write up this whole thing on explaining the custom of giving a Jewish child a Hebrew name, but About.com did a decent job. An excerpt is below. I will also add this - Hebrew names, like much of our tradition that we still follow, are all parts of the string that binds us together. Us being all Jews today, and also keeps alive the connection to our ancestors. Whatever our philosophy or our level of observance, certain things connect us all as one people.

Certain religious rituals require Hebrew names. Hebrew names are used for calling people to the Torah. Certain prayers, such... more

Something to consider when going through the adoption process is the name issue. Many of us adopt babies who have not been given a name, so the choice is relatively easy - we choose the name, end of story. Then it gets slightly more complex if the baby or child already has a name - do we keep the name? Do we make it a middle name? Do we change it altogether? Much of what I have read suggests that if the baby or child already has a name then one should make an effort to keep the name as much as possible - keeping the name shows that you are accepting of who they are and their heritage before they became part of your family. On the other hand, if it's a name you really can't or don't want to... more

So when I was pregnant, I was on all the pregnancy message boards. I was so happy to share my symptoms and thoughts and was enjoying talking to other women who were in the same state of life. I found it easy to talk to people whom I had never met - sometimes over the internet, we feel more comfortable sharing personal information with complete strangers than friends or family.

Then I miscarried. After a bit, I found myself on the miscarriage message boards, got support from other women who were going through or who had been through similar... more

The current issue of the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles focuses on adoption from China, specifically by Jewish Families. I encourage you to peruse the issue as there are several articles of interest, but I just wanted to bring a few excerpts here.

The main piece is called Dual Identity, Double the Questions and talks about some tough issues including interracial adoption, conversion, coming of age and dating. My daughter is a minority within a minority within a minority: she's Jewish, adopted and Black. But I found a lot of interesting things and points to ponder in this issue that focuses on adoption from... more

Although I had both good vibes and okay vibes from this article in a recent issue of Jewish Action, I still like to see the topic of Adoption, and specifically Jewish Adoption being discussed. The full text of the article can be found here. People often inquire about the subject of Jewish families and Transracial adoption. I've brought a small excerpt below:

But You Don’t Look Jewish

Parents who adopt a baby from overseas or a child of mixed race face the additional concern of communal acceptance. David and Sarah Feinberg [name has... more

I realized I had not yet posted about this great resource. The Jewish Children's Adoption Network is not an agency, rather they serve to connect potential adoptive parents with Rabbis, social workers, agencies, attorneys and birth families, who know of Jewish babies and children in need of a home. It is a non-profit organization and has about 100 children referred each year. The majority of the children referred tend to be drug exposed, or have physical or mental issues, although there is a thorough registration form on their website where you can indicate exactly what ages you are looking for, as well as what "issues" you would be okay dealing... more

As some of you may be aware, there has been some tumult recently in the world of Orthodox conversions - specifically in regards to the acceptance of American conversions in Israel. (This issue is really just focused on Orthodox conversions - I'll get into other movements' conversions another time). While I try to stay out of politics on this blog as much as possible, this issue is directly related to Jewish Adoptive parents, most of whom do convert or consider converting their children to Judaism.

I was waiting to post about this issue until there had been some kind of resolution to the matter to some degree. This has come today in the form of an agreement reached today between the... more

Just a few happenings from here and there that I found while perusing the internet instead of doing something productive like getting my mailings out, folding laundry or mowing the lawn. It's amazing how much you can avoid getting done while you're on the internet. Anyway, I thought I'd pass these bits along to keep you in the know.

AN INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION SEMINAR will be held May 24 from 7 - 9 p.m. It will be co-hosted by Adoption Resources of Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Boston and Adoption Choices of Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, and held at Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Boston, 1430 Main St., Waltham. Spence-Chapin of New... more

There is an organization called A.T.I.M.E. - A Torah Infertility Medium of Exchange that is based out of the New York area. Although the vast majority of the work that they do is focused on infertility support, resources, etc, they are also branching out to covering the topic of Jewish Adoption. A.T.I.M.E., as an organization, seems to be very much affiliated with the orthodox movement, but I know that couples of different denominations have attended their seminars and programs. As far as their adoption services, the following is from their website:

ADOPTION SERVICES... more

I know that Anna's first foster family became resource parents through their church, which was affiliated with a religious organization that helps people to become foster parents. In the Christian world, I have found many religious organizations that are also involved in foster care or adoptive services. Not so much in the Jewish world - probably because we only make up about two to three percent of the United States. But here is one example of a good organization to know about in the New York area. I have heard of some people actually adopting from this organization, but typically it seems to be just foster care.

OHEL serves children... more