The Bamboo Cradle: a Jewish Father's Story

Plot

Adopting a Chinese baby leads an American professor and his wife to the discovery of their own Jewish heritage. An absorbing, true story to read and re-read.


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.