Q: When a baby is adopted what name does it receive? Are they called “ben” or “bat” their adoptive parents or blood parent?
A: There are several components to this issue. The adoptive parent does not transfer the patrilineal or tribal affiliation, i.e., Kohen or Levi. Another related issue is that if parents adopt a boy and a girl (assuming they are not blood siblings) they can marry one another. In a similar vein, since the adoptive child is not the genetic child of the parent the child is not obligated to sit “shiva” for them. According to all authorities there is no prohibition against the child doing so.
And yet, the Talmud clearly states that one who rears a child and teaches them Torah are to considered just as a parent. Therefore, most rabbinic authorities urge that all the practices for a child, including their Hebrew name, be associated with their adoptive parent.
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