Agudath Israel of America has accused the Rensselaer Department of Social Services of violating state law by working to have two Jewish children (a brother and sister) adopted by non-Jewish couples. Under New York State law, social service agencies and the courts are generally required to place children in foster and adoptive homes that share the religious faith of the child. But in the case of two children under the jurisdiction of Rensselaer Social Services, the law is being ignored and plans for their adoption by two non-Jewish couples are underway-even though their mother has requested that her children be kept together and placed in a Jewish home.
Agudath Israel learned of the situation when those close to the children’s mother called the organization for help. “When we get calls about such situations,” explained Agudath Israel General Counsel Mordechai Biser, “we promptly inform the relevant social service agency of the legal requirement to place Jewish children in Jewish homes, and they usually are quick to comply.” “But in this case,” continued the attorney, “the Rensselaer Department of Social Services has rejected our pleas and those of the children’s mother that the law be followed, claiming that it is not ‘practicable’ to place these children in a same-faith home.”
In a letter to the Department, Agudath Israel pointed out that under state law, the only legal justification for not placing a child in a home of the same faith as the child is if there is no available appropriate person of the same religious faith to serve as the child’s foster or adoptive parent. In this case, there are appropriate Jewish couples available who have been approved to serve as adoptive parents and have contacted the Rensselaer Department of Social Services.
“It would indeed be a tragedy,” concluded attorney Biser, “if these young children would be lost to the Jewish people forever due to the illegal actions of this social service agency. Agudath Israel is pursuing the matter and reaching out to the appropriate officials to try to halt the proposed adoptions before it is too late.” The matter is currently before a court, and Agudath Israel plans to submit an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief supporting the mother’s position that the children be placed in Jewish homes.
The telephone number for Rensselaer Social Services Commissioner Randy Hall is 518-833-6005.
Social services employees have been known to accept bribes for placing good children in the hands of those who are willing to pay the most. File a bribery complaint with the local police and also state police.
I will gladly take them
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE UP TO THE “PROFESSIONALS???? JUST ASK THE KIDS, DO U WANt these nice people as your parents?
http://www.rensco.com/contact_eform.asp
email or postal address??
Please call the number and voice your opinion!!!!!!!!!!!
They should let some one adopt those poor kids
please…….post more info ….
It is very sweet that you want to consider adoption/fostercare. However, it takes so many qualifications such as background checks, an adequate moderatw to high income, psychological evals, etc. It takes a VERY long time to get approved.
Please call the # and tell them, We are losing Jews daily to assimilation We dont need the State of NY to do the same.
To #9 you sound like a Self-hating Jew, As a person thats close to this case, I can tell you FYI that the kids are not in such Ideal homes. “Every Jewish chils deserves a Jewish home.”
A press conference might do the trick. as much as people know about it, it didn’t quite make it to any headlines but if a press conferences held, then it will become a more widely known issue and the social services will be held accountable for their actions by many more who oppose such a ludicrous decision.
B”H
There are Jewish people ready to adopt these children, but they need YOUR HELP by calling the number and saying how you feel about this issue.
By showing your support you can insure that these siblings are put in a warm and loving Jewish home.
Please don’t let this act of modern day antisemitism get in the way of saving Jewish Neshamos!!!
let that someone be you!
What should we say when we call?
they must hear the jewish ppls voices, this is not ok.
Aside from not allowing the state to committ spiritual kidnapping and to force someone to do something ahgainst their religion it is also revolting that they want to seperate a brother and a sister. I’m sure that’s also illegal. I find it hard to believe that there aren’t available (jewish)foster parents who are willing to take them both together.
Please call the number on the bottom of the page. Voice your outrage. Let them know that a Jewish child is not hefker! The boy had a bris performed by Rabbi Shain and was named Menachem Yosef. His sister is named Chana. These are Jewish neshamas we must fight for them!!! Please say Tahilim for them and call. Chana bas Shaina and Menachem Yosef ben Shaina. Put this on your Facebook ,Twitter,sms , and any other place were ppl can see, comment, and voice their outrage. This is a piston shvoim!!!!!!!
The Rensselaer Department of Social Services, Judge Linda Reade, the I.C.E. and many others in government and important positions trample on our laws.
‘One nation, under G-d, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’
K I C K THE B U M B S OUT!
thats america may be canada has a little bit more shecl
Ill take them toooo!
Dear parents, have a heart , take a break tmrw for two minutes and take the time to make the phone call to this person. lets show that we really care. action is the main thing
you know- there is more to this story.
I tried calling about these kids 4 times.
I am not approved, but i would love to be and i wanted these kids. 4 calls, and no answer from ohel, who was taking care of this.
why didn’t ohel reply?
so quick to say that there was no one, but iw as there!!!
GET A LIFE!!!!!
Is there nething that we can do to help? PLz let us know!!!
WE WANT MOSHIACH NOW!
I love these comments, so loving and concerned.
thanks to everyone
Save them from the clutches of the non jewish parents they need to come back please save them they may even become Christan Chas V ‘ Shalom
Saying poetry is not gana help their situation… How about doing something about it, instead of pretending you are by saying poems.
Perhaps it’s a good thing, that they’ll have a nice family. If not, try and find a nice jewish one. But I think it should be left to the professionals. They study this stuff.
How does one qualify to become a foster/adoptive family?
but im a single 20 year old girl..
that wouldn’t be allowed would it?
Time Magazine recently had an article about a new program, where investigators track down relatives, even distant ones, of children for possible foster care and then hopefully adoption. the goal is to keep children with family members and members of their community. Maybe they can help.
the nerve of these people!
i agree
Can we learn their Hebrew names and ages to say Tehillim for them? Someone shouldmake a Tehillim campaign for them!