A year ago, when my husband and I decided that we were ready to become parents, we agreed on one thing: However parenthood comes to us, it will be a precious miracle. To us, adoption was always considered a favorable route to parenthood. We never saw it as second rate, or less preferred. So, naturally, as a year of failed fertility treatments went by, we were excited to open the door to the miracle of adoption. My husband and I feel that adoption is one of the most fulfilling mitzvahs (a "good deed" in Judaism) one can perform. Although not an easy feat, this mitzvah is completed by all three parties: The birth mother, the parents, and the child. The magnitude of the sacrifice, and the depth of that privilege for a child born to another woman to call us his or her parents, will never be forgotten. We will be forever grateful to the mitzvah done by the birth mother. We as the parents will provide the mitzvah of a permanent, loving home for the child. We promise to raise him or her to know that they can do anything and be anything, and we will always love them unconditionally and support them the best way we can. From the moment we hear that we have matched, the child will be growing in our hearts. The child provides the mitzvah of making us a family; the final piece to make us whole. We did not give the child the gift of life, life gave us the gift of the child. Tzedakah is another mitzvah in the Jewish culture. It means "charitable giving". If you find it in your hearts to contribute to our journey to parenthood, it will be a precious miracle. Thank you. Sincerely, Olivia and Daniel
