Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 22:05:28 -0500 (EST)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: Religious Practices

QUESTION:
In Torah Forum Volume 5 Number 45 the issue of baptizing a baby, up for
adoption was discussed. In the discussion it was pointed out that Christian
baptism originally comes from the Jewish concept of Mikvah so "the child
will be baptized by his parents anyway"(Whether he is made Christian or
Jewish).

ANSWER:
We have to be careful here. The physical **FORM** of baptism and Mikvah
immersion may be the same the **ACTS** are totally different. Judaism
prohibits following the practices of other religions. Therefore if the
child is to be adopted as Jewish then the child should NOT be baptized
Conversely if the child is made Christian then the child should not go to
Mikvah. In other words how we TALK about the act is as important as the
form of the act.

Studies have shown that mix-religious marriages can result in severe
identity problems to the children.  It is therefore of paramount importance
for all parties to be aware that the child is EITHER JEWISH or CHRISTIAN
but not both. In other words the child must be told both what they will
become and what they will not become

Russell Hendel; Math; Towson Phd ASA
Moderator Rashi Is Simple; http://www.shamash.org/rashi/