A Blessing for Adoption

May the one who blessed our adoptive ancestors,

Jacob and his grandchildren Ephraim and Menashe, as he mixed up his left and right hands to bless and adopt them;

Moses, his birth-mother Yocheved, and Pharaoh’s daughter Batya who drew Moses from the water;

Ruth, her son Obed, and her mother-in-law Naomi who took him to her bosom and became his foster mother;

Samuel the prophet and his mother Hannah, who brought him to the priest Eli, lending him to God;

and Hadassah — she being Esther — and Mordechai, as he fostered her, since she had neither father nor mother;

Bless this child and [his/her] father, who has accepted upon himself all the obligations incumbent upon parents, regarding __________________________. [He/she] is his child in all matters, and may it be Your will that he lovingly raise [him/her] to Torah, huppah, and good deeds.

Bless this child and [his/her] mother, who has accepted upon herself all the obligations incumbent upon parents, regarding __________________________. [He/she] is her child in all matters, and may it be Your will that she lovingly raise [him/her] to Torah, huppah, and good deeds.

Bless this child and [his/her] parent(s), who has (have) accepted upon themselves all the obligations incumbent upon parents, regarding __________________________. [He/she] is their child in all matters, and may it be Your will that they lovingly raise [him/her] to Torah, huppah, and good deeds.

May God make you like our adopted ancestors:

Ephraim and Menashe, who are invoked as a blessing;

Moses, who was more humble than any other person;

Obed, who was blessed with the renewal of spirit;

Samuel, who taught what was good and right;

Esther, who found favor in the eyes of all who saw her.

And let us say, Amen.