New York - Agudah Protests Adoption Of Jewish Kids In Non-Jewish Homes |
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News Source: The Jewish Star By Michael Orbach
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New York - Agudath Israel is planning on filing a friend of the court brief on behalf of a Jewish mother whose two children were placed in non-Jewish foster care. The organization claims that Renssellaer County Social Services in upstate New York violated state law when it placed the two children — a 2-year-old boy and 6-month-old girl — in non-Jewish homes.
Rabbi Mordechai Biser, general counsel for Agudah, said that the children’s mother requested they be placed together in a Jewish home, a request the agency did not fulfill. When Rabbi Biser contacted the agency, it refused to move the children, despite the availability of Jewish homes.
“I’ve never had this before,” Rabbi Biser said. “I’ve dealt with a number of situations where children have been placed in foster care. Once we make a protest, within 24 hours the children have been switched [to Jewish] homes.”
Agudah, a multifaceted Charedi organization run by a council of Orthodox rabbis, is submitting the brief before the mother’s parental rights have been fully terminated. Part of the social service agency’s refusal seems to stem from the complexity of the case. The mother, who is Jewish and “has a very Jewish last name,” according to Rabbi Biser, is a heroin addict who lives in housing projects next to the Orthodox shul. The boy was placed in his foster family, a lesbian couple,a year and a half ago. Rabbi Biser said that the couple’s sexuality has nothing to do with the protest. “We would be objecting just as vigorously if the boy was going to live with a non-Jewish heterosexual couple,” he said. When the woman’s daughter was placed in foster care a month ago, the woman, with the aid of the community, requested that they be placed together in a Jewish home.
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Read Comments (7) — Post Yours »
1
Jan 27, 2011 at 08:08 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
If there are jewish foster parents available, then obviously it makes sense to honor the parents' wishes. Otherwise, the child is much better off in a goiyeshe home than being institutionalized somewhere by the government.
2
Jan 28, 2011 at 08:40 AM Butterfly Says:Report as Inappropriate
I understand the Rabbi's objections, but is he going to go to court with the name of a couple whom he can suggest to foster parent these 2 children?? If not, then we cannot rock the boat.
3
Jan 28, 2011 at 09:03 AM Anon Ibid Opcit Says:Report as Inappropriate
The question is what's in the best interests of the child. Not the Jewish community. Not tradition. Not religion.
Even if the children were placed incorrectly, which is very debatable, it would probably be harmful to move them now. One of the most harmful effects of the foster care system is repeated dislocations and moves. It's very difficult to place two children together let alone one with medical problems. It's even rarer for them to bond with the foster parents much less for the foster parents to be willing to adopt on top of that.
At this point it's probably better for them to stay.
4
Jan 28, 2011 at 11:43 AM ShmuelG Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ The question is what's in the best interests of the child. Not the Jewish community. Not tradition. Not religion.
Even if the children were placed incorrectly, which is very debatable, it would probably be harmful to move them now. One of the most harmful effects of the foster care system is repeated dislocations and moves. It's very difficult to place two children together let alone one with medical problems. It's even rarer for them to bond with the foster parents much less for the foster parents to be willing to adopt on top of that.
At this point it's probably better for them to stay. ”
You can't be serious! How is it in the best insterests of a Jewish child to be raised a goy? Truly, some people have their minds so open that all their brains fell out long time ago.
5
Jan 28, 2011 at 01:16 PM Anon Ibid Opcit Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ You can't be serious! How is it in the best insterests of a Jewish child to be raised a goy? Truly, some people have their minds so open that all their brains fell out long time ago. ”
I am absolutely serious. The worst things that could happen would be to bounce children from house to house or be stuck in institutions in the hope that a suitable home will open up. A loving home that will take two children, one with special needs, is incredibly rare. There isn't a horde of concerned Jews queueing up to join the foster program.
Would it be good if good foster parents could be matched to kids on religion as well as everything else? Yes. Is it more important than a stable home where the parents and children fit in, one where siblings won't be broken up, where the parents are willing to adopt, where they are comfortable, safe and happy?
No. It isn't.
6
Jan 28, 2011 at 02:34 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
What posters #1,2,and 3 said makes a lot of sense. In some cases adoptive parents will also take into consideration the cultural and religious background of the child's birth parent's and incorporate that into the child's life to the extent possible.
7
Jan 28, 2011 at 03:07 PM ShmuelG Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I am absolutely serious. The worst things that could happen would be to bounce children from house to house or be stuck in institutions in the hope that a suitable home will open up. A loving home that will take two children, one with special needs, is incredibly rare. There isn't a horde of concerned Jews queueing up to join the foster program.
Would it be good if good foster parents could be matched to kids on religion as well as everything else? Yes. Is it more important than a stable home where the parents and children fit in, one where siblings won't be broken up, where the parents are willing to adopt, where they are comfortable, safe and happy?
No. It isn't. ”
We are not talking here about matching "on religion". We are talking being Jew vs being Goy. I seriously doubt you are Jewish if you don't understand what we are talking about here.