Orphans TB Sanhedrin 19

I can fully appreciate why an adopted child would want to seek out his/her biological parents. Knowing the health records of the biological parents is important to know for all the obvious reasons. I imagine the adopted child would also want to know why the biological parents gave him/her away. Knowing the story would give him/her a sense of closure. Knowing all this doesn’t diminish the love child has for his/her adoptive parents.

One of my congregants in Springfield, MA was a foster parent. She has so much love she shared with her foster children. She kept on adopting her foster children because she couldn’t bear parting with them. At her son’s bar mitzvah, I kiddingly remarked that we don’t ask her how her children are, but how many are her children. She was such a wonderful role model that I wife Judy brought her to Camp Ramah in New England to speak to her camper students.

Daf TB Sanhedrin 19 reinforces how important and strong is the relationship between the adoptive parents and the adopted child by providing 4 biblical stories to prove the point.

“The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa as well, isn’t it written: “And the five sons of Michal, daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel” (II Samuel 21:8). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa could have said to you to understand it this way: And did Michal give birth to these children? But didn’t Merab give birth to them for Adriel? Rather, Merab gave birth to them and died, and Michal raised them in her house. Therefore, the children were called by her name, to teach you that with regard to anyone who raises an orphan in his house, the verse ascribes him credit as if he gave birth to him.

 

“Ḥanina called; Yoḥanan and his wife; Elazar and redemption; and Shmuel in my studies. Rabbi Ḥanina says: Proof for the aforementioned statement can be derived from here: “And the neighbors gave him a name, saying: There is a son born to Naomi” (Ruth 4:17). And did Naomi give birth to the son? But didn’t Ruth give birth to him? Rather, Ruth gave birth and Naomi raised him. Therefore, he was called by her name: “A son born to Naomi.”

 

"Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Proof for the aforementioned statement can be derived from here: “And his wife Hajehudijah gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah, and these are the sons of Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took” (I Chronicles 4:18). Mered is Caleb, and why was his name called Mered? Because he rebelled [marad] against the counsel of the spies. And according to the midrash, Jered, Heber, and Jekuthiel all refer to Moses our teacher. And did Bithiah give birth to Moses? But didn’t Jochebed give birth to him? Rather, Jochebed gave birth to him and Bithiah raised him. Therefore, he was called by her name as though she had given birth to him.

 

"Rabbi Elazar says: Proof for the aforementioned statement can be derived from here: “You have with Your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph, Selah” (Psalms 77:16). And did Joseph sire all of the children of Israel? But didn’t Jacob sire them? Rather, Jacob sired them and Joseph sustained them financially. Therefore, they were called by his name; all of Israel were called the children of Joseph.” (Sefaria.org translation)

 

I have another friend who worked as a social worker in a foster care agency. She lamented that she had a difficult time finding Jewish foster parents. She has since retired, but I’m sure the need for Jewish foster parents is still as pressing. If you have the capacity to be a foster parent, I encourage you to think about becoming one.