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Adoption & Jewish Identity •

Despite the fact that American Jews adopt at about twice the rate of the general population, very little has been known about the real-life experiences of Jewish adoptees and their families. Many Jewish adoptees grapple with unique identity issues rooted in common assumptions about what a Jew looks like, “Jewish” abilities, and what makes someone authentically Jewish.

The Adoption and Jewish Identity Project began as a research project in 2010 with a first-ever in-depth survey of American Jewish adoptive parents, followed in 2014 by oral histories from a diverse group of adoptees raised in American Jewish families, in which they spoke about their multifaceted and evolving identities. The project has evolved into a nonprofit that supports Jewish adoptees and their families and advocates for inclusive communities. adoptionandjewishidentity.org