My Shabbat Shalom message this week is close to my heart, as this week’s Torah portion, Sh’mot, contains one of the earliest documented stories of adoption.

As the story goes, Pharaoh decrees that all firstborn male Jewish babies are to be killed. Fearing Pharaoh’s decree, Moses’ mother Yocheved places him in a basket and floats him down the river. In a true miracle of timing, Moses is found by Pharaoh’s daughter Batya, who takes baby Moses in and adopts him as her own son.

What I love about this story is that it shows us both sides of Moses’ adoption journey. We get a glimpse into the sacrifice of Moses’ mother placing him into the river, and then we see the reaction of Batya finding Moses and raising him as her own.

Moses’ story of survival is one of true fate. It was what was meant to happen for him. I very much feel the same about our adoption journey. Over two years ago, everyone told us that the wait would be difficult, but what was meant to happen for us would eventually fall into place. Writing this a week after our son, Henry, turned 5 months old, I can truly say that there is an element of faith and “beseheretness” that goes into every story of adoption.

Moreover, every year on Passover, we tell the story of Moses and our exodus out of Egypt. When I heard Moses being used as a biblical example of adoption in the bible, it completely changed my perspective on the story. I hope that this has also opened your minds and hearts as well.

Shabbat Shalom,

Matt Rissien