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Are adopted children obligated to search for their biological parents so they can honor them? The Talmud implies that an adopted son is not obligated to honor his adopted parents: "Rabbi Aha ben Yaakov raised his daughter's son, Rabbi Yaakov. When he grew up, [the grandfather] said to him: “Give me some water to drink”. He replied: “I am not your son.”" [Sotah 49a] But the Midrash says: "He who brings up children is called the father, not he who gives birth." [Ex. R. 46:5] So who should adopted children honor, per halacha?

Maurice Mizrahi
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  • More specific: https://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/20171 and https://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/22803. More specific in a different direction: https://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/81720. – msh210 Sep 18 '17 at 16:57
  • It seems there is no obligation to search for parents to honor them, but only that you should honor then when you know who they are. A Jew needs to appreciate all the good which he receives that includes all parents – hazoriz Sep 18 '17 at 18:05

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