The Bamboo Cradle: a Jewish father's story

A childless, not particularly religious, Jewish couple is living in Taiwan working as professors and studying Chinese. One day Avraham, the husband, takes the subway to work as usual. He stumbles across an abandoned (Chinese) baby and their lives are irrevocably changed. As new parents their priorities begin to change. They start becoming more religious and return to the US. After they become orthodox Barbara, the wife, gives birth to several sons and they move to Israel. It was at this point that I became concerned about Devorah, their Chinese daughter. This was back before adopting Chinese daughters became commonplace. In spite of being sheltered by a strong loving family, Devorah experiences prejudice and bullying for the first time. I wondered if Devorah, who was completely estranged from her native culture, would find acceptance and an eventual husband in this orthodox Jewish setting. Bearing in mind that Devorah's father had publicly spoken out against Jews marrying non-Jews I felt this placed Devorah in a very precarious position. None of these issues is addressed. I read this book more than a decade ago when it first came out. I would recommend that Avraham Schwartzbaum write an updated version. Tell us how Devorah is doing now; address the issues of mixed families and non-Caucasian converts to Judaism. So many Westerners have adopted Chinese daughters that if Schwartzbaum were to reflect on the situation and offer some advice he would probably find a broad audience. By the way, I heard from a reliable source that Devorah did marry and start a family.

This autobiography of Jewish parents and an adoptive chinese baby was fascinating. I would have liked to hear more about the life of this young Asian girl and her new Jewish life. It really is a great story about the Jewish faith, life and customs. Any BTs can appreciate the struggles and joy that comes with this faith.

This is a story that really speaks to the heart and soul. It is a personal story that we are privileged to share. I highly recommend it! Enjoy!

If you have adopted or are adopting (I am in the process myself) this is the book for you. It is a most fascinating tale, and will make you realize that the miraculous does happen - in the most unusual ways. A fairly irreligious Jewish couple, who are having trouble conceiving, live in China because the husband has a Fulbright scholarship. One day he is in a train station and hears a baby cry - she was left abandoned under his seat, in a bamboo cradle. The couple adopt her, and when they return to the U.S. a Rabbi informs them that he will not convert the child to Judaism unless she is raised Orthodox. The couple tries to become Orthodox, and eventually take to it like a duck to water. (And there are more wonderful surprises!) The story is unbelievable, and their love for their beautiful Asian daughter is invincible. The only problem I had with the book is that eventually the husband (who is the author) throws in religious language all the time - "God willing", "It is up to Hashem" (God) etc., until I wanted to throw the book out. But still, the story is so unique and loving that it overcomes the book's flaws. Shows you how love for a child absolutely knows no geographic, national, or ethnic boundaries. And, by the way, the daughter herself writes a chapter at the end which is a wonderful touch.