A Mother & Daughter's Adoption Journey

Chavie and Shoshana begin with an account of Shoshana's challenging childhood before she found a fresh start with the Bruk family in Bozeman, Montana. Shoshana shares what it was like to be the eldest of her new siblings while integrating into an observant Jewish household and community. Wanting to fully commit, she attended an all-girls Chassidic boarding school, only to find herself feeling alienated from that environment. Chavie discusses the impossible choices she faced in addressing Shoshana's subsequent mental health struggles as a teenager and the impact it had on their new mother-daughter relationship, which she was so committed to cultivating. The episode concludes with an honest and sometimes comedic reflection on where their relationship stands today, and the love and respect at the core of it all. Shoshana also shares where she stands today in her Jewish identity and her message for girls and women who may be experiencing similar challenges.

Please note: This episode contains numerous references to abuse, self-harm, and other challenging mental health issues.

Shoshana Bruk is the eldest of the five Bruk children. She is a junior at Montana State University and looks forward to pursuing a degree in forensics, law enforcement, and criminology. Her parents, Rabbi Chaim and Chavie Bruk, are the directors of Chabad-Lubavitch of Montana. After a crushing diagnosis of permanent infertility, the Bruks chose to adopt five children. At the time considered taboo in the Orthodox Jewish community, the Bruks have become outspoken advocates for adoption and for removing the stigma around physical and mental health challenges that each of their children face.

This Week's Q&A

• Would you ever move out of Montana?
• Why isn’t adoption more common in the Orthodox Jewish community?
• How do you have time to take on such a big project like a podcast?

Stay in Touch with Chavie!

www.instagram.com/chaviebruk

www.totallyunexpected.blog

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by dear friends dedicating it to the Bruk children: Shoshana, Chaya, Zeesy, Menny, and Chana Leah. Also in recognition of a new book titled Letters for Life: Guidance for Emotional Wellness from the Lubavitcher Rebbe by Levi Y. Shmotkin.