Schvach, I myself am a Ger Tzedek of Chinese heritage. I know it was probably assur of me to make that distinction (even of myself!), but nonetheless I am extremely proud of my origins, integrating them every day into my Jewish life. Of course, I had the advantage of being raised a Nice Chinese Boy, but the issue lies with these adoptees.
First, define "Jewish without pariso". Yes, she and I are both new people according to halakha, but that doesn't mean we don't retain certain characteristics: The chief of them being race and culture. For both of us, we're Jews, but going to mikveh doesn't automatically blanch your skin, curl your hair, or raise your nose bridge. In our respective Jewish communities, there's always going to be SOMEONE noticing that SOMEONE around here is quite different than anyone else. Askance glances and whispers will be made. Questions are going to be asked. I have learned to provide the proper answers and deal with it, and frankly, this girl must be able to do the same - which brings me to the next element: culture.
I alredy had a cultural background coming in to Am Yisrael, but this girl was adopted at the age of 3 months. How is the girl supposed to answer questions from both the Jewish and Chinese communities on how "Chinesely knowlegeable" she is. (I should also note that many Chinese Americans, not just adoptees and/or Jews, deal with the same problem!) I know of a couple who adopted a girl from China, (and I didn't even know they were Jewish until long after her BM!) and every Sunday they sent her to Chinese school, involving not only her but THEMSELVES in all sorts of aspects of Chinese language and culture! Is THAT to be condemned as exoticism? Is THAT "rejection"? Or are they, and numerous other families who have adopted foreign children, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, to be commended for involving themselves in the physical heratige of their children? I happen to think Chinese-themed BMs are awesome, and (good, authentic) Kosher Chinese (that isn't cooked by myself) is very appreciated!
Which brings me to my NEXT kvetch: How the hell are these parents NOT "raising her Jewish"? Did she not accept Ol haMitzvot?* Or are you saying she has to be raised with a "Jewish culture"? You realize that no one Jewish Culture exists, right? I'll assume the best of you, and say that you meant that she should be raised specifically in the Ashkenazic culture of her mother, and (G-d forbid) didn't say that Ashkenazic culture was THE "Jewish culture" she should be raised in. It's the same with born Jews, as well. When an orphaned Teimani boy is picked up by kind and caring Ashkenazi parents, do you expect him to abandon all the minhagim (well, maybe - depends on halakha of adoption) and/or the cultural heratige of his birth parents? How about in the opposite situation?
And we're only talking from the perspective of the parents, here! What about how the girl thinks of her multicultural situation? Does she love it or hate it? I think it's lovely that she has options, but in the end, it would be her who has to decide how she wants to be identified. Not her parents, not her shul, and certainly not some commenter on a Jewish blog!
So the point is, adoptive parents can ONLY enrich their children AND themselves for exploring the original cultural background of their children. I have not known any adoptive family where this isn't the case. So what's wrong with a Chinese Bat Mitzvah? I mean, send her to Hebrew and Chinese school, and she'll be a polyglot. (But she'll probably get bored to death doing it!) So Mazal Tov and Gong-xi to the Bat Yisrael Bat Sin, and may she lead a life of Torah, Ma`asim Tovim, and good fortune to the chuppah and beyond!
As for me, I will continue doing Tanakh verses in Chinese calligraphy, cooking Ma-Ma's recipies in accordance with kashrut, singing Eastern European Zemirot at the Shabbes dinner table, reading Torah Syrian-style at Shacharit, and enjoying the best kosher Dafina that the Moroccans have to offer. How's THAT for a "Jewish identity"?!
*Insofar as intermarried Reform Jews do so - not that I'm criticizing their practices!
Schvach, I myself am a Ger Tzedek of Chinese heritage. I know it was probably assur of me to make that distinction (even of myself!), but nonetheless I am extremely proud of my origins, integrating them every day into my Jewish life. Of course, I had the advantage of being raised a Nice Chinese Boy, but the issue lies with these adoptees.
First, define "Jewish without pariso". Yes, she and I are both new people according to halakha, but that doesn't mean we don't retain certain characteristics: The chief of them being race and culture. For both of us, we're Jews, but going to mikveh doesn't automatically blanch your skin, curl your hair, or raise your nose bridge. In our respective Jewish communities, there's always going to be SOMEONE noticing that SOMEONE around here is quite different than anyone else. Askance glances and whispers will be made. Questions are going to be asked. I have learned to provide the proper answers and deal with it, and frankly, this girl must be able to do the same - which brings me to the next element: culture.
I alredy had a cultural background coming in to Am Yisrael, but this girl was adopted at the age of 3 months. How is the girl supposed to answer questions from both the Jewish and Chinese communities on how "Chinesely knowlegeable" she is. (I should also note that many Chinese Americans, not just adoptees and/or Jews, deal with the same problem!) I know of a couple who adopted a girl from China, (and I didn't even know they were Jewish until long after her BM!) and every Sunday they sent her to Chinese school, involving not only her but THEMSELVES in all sorts of aspects of Chinese language and culture! Is THAT to be condemned as exoticism? Is THAT "rejection"? Or are they, and numerous other families who have adopted foreign children, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, to be commended for involving themselves in the physical heratige of their children? I happen to think Chinese-themed BMs are awesome, and (good, authentic) Kosher Chinese (that isn't cooked by myself) is very appreciated!
Which brings me to my NEXT kvetch: How the hell are these parents NOT "raising her Jewish"? Did she not accept Ol haMitzvot?* Or are you saying she has to be raised with a "Jewish culture"? You realize that no one Jewish Culture exists, right? I'll assume the best of you, and say that you meant that she should be raised specifically in the Ashkenazic culture of her mother, and (G-d forbid) didn't say that Ashkenazic culture was THE "Jewish culture" she should be raised in. It's the same with born Jews, as well. When an orphaned Teimani boy is picked up by kind and caring Ashkenazi parents, do you expect him to abandon all the minhagim (well, maybe - depends on halakha of adoption) and/or the cultural heratige of his birth parents? How about in the opposite situation?
And we're only talking from the perspective of the parents, here! What about how the girl thinks of her multicultural situation? Does she love it or hate it? I think it's lovely that she has options, but in the end, it would be her who has to decide how she wants to be identified. Not her parents, not her shul, and certainly not some commenter on a Jewish blog!
So the point is, adoptive parents can ONLY enrich their children AND themselves for exploring the original cultural background of their children. I have not known any adoptive family where this isn't the case. So what's wrong with a Chinese Bat Mitzvah? I mean, send her to Hebrew and Chinese school, and she'll be a polyglot. (But she'll probably get bored to death doing it!) So Mazal Tov and Gong-xi to the Bat Yisrael Bat Sin, and may she lead a life of Torah, Ma`asim Tovim, and good fortune to the chuppah and beyond!
As for me, I will continue doing Tanakh verses in Chinese calligraphy, cooking Ma-Ma's recipies in accordance with kashrut, singing Eastern European Zemirot at the Shabbes dinner table, reading Torah Syrian-style at Shacharit, and enjoying the best kosher Dafina that the Moroccans have to offer. How's THAT for a "Jewish identity"?!
*Insofar as intermarried Reform Jews do so - not that I'm criticizing their practices!