better late than never...dragonbear82March 13 2007, 22:49:35 UTC
I don't know if you care anymore but apartenly I never answered you so I'm going to now...
Adoption is actually a great explanation and example of how judaisim is a family, not religion in the classic sense. If you're born to a family you're part of that family by blood, no matter what you do. Converting is like being adopted. But it's not a enough for the adoptive family to want to adopt you, you have to want to be adopted.
In a nutshell, If a non jew adopts a jewish child and the child grows up their whole never knowing they are jewish it's kind of like a prince being raised by non royalty in that he's still a prince, he just doesn't know it. When a Jew adopts a non jewish child they are typically raised jewish. This is mostly a practical thing. If the whole family is celebrating jewish holidays and the kid's siblings are all going to jewish day school then it's detrimental to single him out. He or She is a part of the family. Later, when they are older, they are given the choice of whether or not they want to be jewish. This happens when they are old enough to understand what it means and can vary from person to person but never before 12-13. They have to decide if they want to be jewish. They can choose either path. I personally know someone who decided decided she did want to be jewish. While I don't know personally anyone who decided not to, there are plenty of cases where they don't.
I hope that's helpful if you were still interested.
Adoption is actually a great explanation and example of how judaisim is a family, not religion in the classic sense. If you're born to a family you're part of that family by blood, no matter what you do. Converting is like being adopted. But it's not a enough for the adoptive family to want to adopt you, you have to want to be adopted.
In a nutshell, If a non jew adopts a jewish child and the child grows up their whole never knowing they are jewish it's kind of like a prince being raised by non royalty in that he's still a prince, he just doesn't know it.
When a Jew adopts a non jewish child they are typically raised jewish. This is mostly a practical thing. If the whole family is celebrating jewish holidays and the kid's siblings are all going to jewish day school then it's detrimental to single him out. He or She is a part of the family. Later, when they are older, they are given the choice of whether or not they want to be jewish. This happens when they are old enough to understand what it means and can vary from person to person but never before 12-13. They have to decide if they want to be jewish. They can choose either path. I personally know someone who decided decided she did want to be jewish. While I don't know personally anyone who decided not to, there are plenty of cases where they don't.
I hope that's helpful if you were still interested.
Reply
Leave a comment