Debunking Viral Claim About the Talmud and Minors
4 min read
Inspiration from the conversion of the popular social media influencer.
Adriana Fernandez had a unique path to social media fame. For years, her almost-90,0000 followers online have enjoyed her posts, pictures, and videos reflecting her insights and experiences as a non-Jewish nanny working in observant Jewish homes. She even adopted and leaned into her moniker, “Non-Jewish Nanny.”
It all began when she was a student studying opera in college when she took a job on the side babysitting. The first family that found her on the babysitting website was Jewish. Adriana didn’t have Jewish friends growing up and knew little about the Jewish people’s practices and lifestyle. As she began babysitting in observant Jewish homes, it quickly became much more than just a job or source of earning money. She came to not only love the children she interacted with but the lifestyle they and their families were leading.
She began to share her “non-Jewish” perspective and thoughts on Orthodox Jewish laws, traditions, and rituals, and it went viral. From insights and observations on modesty to kosher recipes and Jewish holidays, people were enamored by her energy, positivity, and capacity to pronounce the guttural “ch” sound. As her following grew, kosher and Jewish businesses took notice, sending her clothing and other products to feature and promote. All the while, she continued to serve as a nanny in Orthodox Jewish homes, developing meaningful relationships with the families she cared for, particularly the children.
Online, people saw her following and influence grow. What they didn’t see was that offline, the influence of the families she was working for was growing on her. Adriana wasn’t just curious and intrigued by the Torah way of life, she began to want it for herself.
Adriana approached a rabbi and rebbetzin in the neighborhood where she was working and they agreed to sponsor her in the conversion process. She took it seriously from the start, learning, reading, reviewing, studying the curriculum, attending davening and classes, and integrating among observant Jewish friends. (Every detail here is published with her permission.) When the Beis Din (Jewish court) became involved, being an “influencer” didn’t accelerate her process; if anything, it made it go slowly, methodically and in a way that would build confidence this interest was genuine and not a way to grow her following or any other motivation.
While the change in her dress and her life was noticeable, Adriana never discussed her journey and process with her followers. She never announced the program she was in or what she was working towards. And finally, after a lot of work and patience, the day came. She immersed as Adriana and emerged as Adina Shoshana. A few days after the birth of her new identity came the transformation of her online profile. The “Non-Jewish Nanny” became the “Now Jewish Nanny.”
Adina Shoshana should be admired for her journey and supported as she continues her next steps as a full-fledged, proud, and practicing Jew. Her Rabbi and Rebbetzin deserve enormous credit for their guidance, care, and time teaching her how to live as a Jew.
And there are other, unseen people in this story who deserve great credit: the families for whom Adina worked. The way they live and interact inspired someone who was working for them and living with them to want to be like them – an observant Jew. That is extraordinary and a tremendous credit to them. Adina shared that it was the children in particular—their sweetness, their patience in sharing their learning and lives with her, their joy in being and living Jewish—that most inspired her.
If someone worked in our home, lived with our family, was involved in our lives and lifestyle, would that draw them closer to Judaism or push them away? Would it inspire them or turn them off?
The Talmud (Bava Metzia 59b) stresses that the Torah obligates us to love the convert and to refrain from causing anguish or pain no less than 36 times. But it isn’t only the convert we should treat well. All who work in our homes, and in whose places of work we frequent, Jew and non-Jew alike, will be impacted by how we behave in general and by our attitude towards our Judaism in particular.
Every Jew is entrusted with this sacred mission. Not everyone we meet will go from Non-Jewish to Now Jewish, but if we live with positivity and joy, with honor and respect, they can go from “Never Liked Jews” to “Now Love Jews,” simply because of us.
"If someone worked in our home, lived with our family, was involved in our lives and lifestyle, would that draw them closer to Judaism or push them away? Would it inspire them or turn them off?"
Not all of us are rich enough to afford nannies. Funny that people who offload their kids on a nanny are seen as bastions of family life.
If you know anything about this story, you would understand that she was a short term babysitter, covering an hour here or there, just like any other baby sitter. She was NOT a live in nanny, she babysat for tens of families at a time, etc. Hiring a babysitter so a couple can go out together once a month is not called "offloading their kids on a nanny." Get your facts straight before you spread sinas chinam.
When G-D places the desire to choose being Jewish - on a person. We should rejoice with G-D - & that person. Then - with PRAYERS FOR SUCCESS - & OPEN ARMS - do everything we can - to help them - with making the transition to Judaism - including using what G-D gives them as talents - toward their mission in life - that He's given them. Adriana (Adina) - may G-D bless you successfully - with all your needs - spiritually - mentally - emotionally - physically & financially - on your Jewish Journey.
Mazal Tov Adina Shoshana. I actually used to wonder how she could be so positive about Yiddishkeit and Yidden and not be drawn to it . And here’s your answer .
well , good for her ! I always enjoyed your content and hope to see more
It's interesting and wonderful that she has converted -- especially during these difficult times in history. I'm assuming that she's converted via the Orthodox beis din --- does she realize about the whole kol isha thing? Isn't she moving towards becoming an opera singer? I take some issues with "kol isha" myself...but I'm just curious about those Jewish perspectives perhaps hindering her music career?
It is interesting non Jews want to be Jewish and sometimes Jews have a problem with their Jewishness, before a convert converts that tell them that Jews have a hard time with anti semites, also after 10/ 07/ 23 there is a lot of anti semitism and anti zionism/ Israel so it took a lot of of courage to take this giant step to join the tribe of Jews welcome home sometimes non Jews have a Jewish father or some non Jews ended up being Jewish that were ancestors were forced to convert to Christianity from Spain and Portugal also there are the lost 10 tribes that would also have to convert to Judaism, so Mazel tov Adina Shoshana it is interesting that a lot of converts don't use the name Ruth the ancestor of King David, usually people born Jewish have that name
What a beautiful young lady. I hope she finds a loving partner to share her life and hopefully, her future family. A very inspiring story.
Gentle Rose, welcome home!!!
Very powerful message at the end of the article, one we should always keep in mind (especially these days, when many are looking for reasons to vilify and discredit us – or worse).
Amen!
Such an amazing journal. Wishing her blessings and all good things always. Thanks for posting.
As another convert, I'm so glad to welcome you to Klal Yisroel! I deeply understand all that attracted you. May HaShem continue to bless you as you live and learn.
And, amen, to the words of Rabbi Goldberg at the end of the article.
Mazel tov, Adina Shoshana! So glad you joined us.
I am tremendously inspired by these geirim, particularly the ones who are converting post Oct 7th. Adina Shoshana, I was impressed with you when I saw you interviewed a few years ago as Adriana and even more amazed now. Welcome to our family!
I wonder why she did not become a “Noahide”.
Most likely because—while that would make her a righteous gentile (and anyway, she might already have been observing the Noahide laws—it wouldn't give her to the Jewish identity she wanted!
Welcome to the tribe, Adina Shoshana!
Beautifully written!
Great article! We are all, always, the ambassadors of the Jewish People to everyone in our lives.
MAZEL TOV, Adina Shoshana!
Thanks for sharing this inspiring story. I never heard of this lady, but she certainly should be admired for her courage joining the Jewish People at this challenging time.