Adoptee from China celebrates her bat mitzvah

Taualumna · #1 03-12-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

Maybe it's "nothing" to you, but bat/bar mitvahs are an important rite of passage to members of the Jewish community, whether born into it, adopted into it (the girl in the article) or converted into it (Sammy Davis Jr., Charlotte from SATC).

I just don't think they should have made a big deal out of a Chinese girl's bat mitzvah just because she's Chinese. They wouldn't have made a big deal out of a child from a country where there is a known Jewish population.

Drolefille · #2 03-12-2007, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taualumna

I just don't think they should have made a big deal out of a Chinese girl's bat mitzvah just because she's Chinese. They wouldn't have made a big deal out of a child from a country where there is a known Jewish population.

But they're not making a big deal about it.

Sister Havana · #3 03-13-2007, 12:14 AM

I thought it was a really nice story and I found it interesting.

You're right that these days a Russian adoptee/emigre's bar or bat mitzvah may not be in the New York Times. But it certainly was not so long ago. The former Soviet Union was not exactly known for religious freedom and back when I was of bat mitzvah age, it was very common to have a bar or bat mitzvah "twin" - a Jewish boy or girl in the USSR who wasn't allowed to have a bar mitzvah.

AlexMack · #4 03-13-2007, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taualumna

I just don't think they should have made a big deal out of a Chinese girl's bat mitzvah just because she's Chinese. They wouldn't have made a big deal out of a child from a country where there is a known Jewish population.

It's not a big deal, it's just interesting. I, for one, have never seen a chinese jew before. That's why there's a story-because many people are like me and haven't seen it. Who cares? She's adopted, chinese and jewish. That makes a good story.

CutiePie2000 · #5 03-14-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centaur532

It's not a big deal, it's just interesting. I, for one, have never seen a chinese jew before. That's why there's a story-because many people are like me and haven't seen it. Who cares? She's adopted, chinese and jewish. That makes a good story.

Yes, yes and yes.