She Was Adopted at Birth on the Other Side of the World. Her Birth Sister Somehow Lives Up the Street.

Send us Fan MailSome people spend their whole lives searching for where they came from. Sarit Saffer-Allal spent hers perfectly content not knowing — until one birthday changed everything.Born in South Africa and adopted at just two weeks old into a warm, observant Jewish family, Sarit always knew she was adopted. She had a loving upbringing, a strong Jewish identity, and no particular urgency to open the box. Then she turned 35, looked at her two kids, her only known blood relatives, and quietly asked herself: who am I really?What followed is one of the most extraordinary stories the Carpool Guys have ever heard. Sarit opened her adoption file, discovered her birth name was Gina Thompson, learned her birth mother had hidden the pregnancy entirely, and found out she had a brother she never knew about. Then, through a single Facebook message, she discovered something nobody saw coming. A half-sister. Adopted in South Africa. Also into a Jewish family. Also in Toronto. Living less than two kilometers away, or as the guys needed it translated, up the street.In this conversation, Sarit opens up about what it felt like to read someone else's biography that turned out to be her own. She talks about confronting a birth mother who denied her existence, flying to New Zealand to meet a birth father who welcomed her with open arms, and navigating the beautiful chaos of suddenly having an entirely new family, while making sure her adoptive family, who chose her and raised her, knew they were never being replaced.And underneath all of it runs a quietly profound thread: what does it mean to be Jewish when you were chosen to be? When your birth mother was not Jewish, your adoptive parents converted you, and your half-sister ended up on the same street living the same life? For Sarit, this journey answered that question once and for all. She did not stumble into Judaism. She was placed there. And she owns it completely.Also in this episode: Dave nearly gets arrested at the Israel on Fifth parade while photobombing a news crew, Jon's Israel parade video attracts 9,000 views and 91 comments of varying hostility, a mouse gives a peace sign, Asher shows up late, Jessica Tish is everyone's hero, Dave dreams of Saratoga, Jon loves a good garage sale, and Asher got stung by a thousand bees at the bay.Question of the Week from Dave Tannenbaum: If you could get lost for a day and go anywhere, 24 hours, travel time included, where would you go?🎙️ Rate and review The Carpool Guys on Apple Podcasts. Five stars only, please.📩 [email protected]📱 @carpoolguyspod🔗 linktr.ee/carpoolguyspod⏱️ Chapters with Timestamps1:02 — Dave Nearly Gets Arrested at the Israel on Fifth Parade8:15 — Jon's Israel Parade Video: 9,000 Views and 91 Comments of Chaos17:30 — The Mayor Who Didn't Show Up and Jessica Tish Is Our Hero20:15 — Shout Outs: Happy Anniversary Avi + In Memory of Daniel Chernikov23:00 — Introducing Sarit Saffer-Allal: NCSY Colleague and an Incredible Story25:10 — Sarit's Background: Born in South Africa, Raised in Israel, Living in Toronto28:00 — The 35th Birthday That Changed Everything30:15 — Opening the Adoption File: Reading Someone Else's Biography40:15 — Did Sarit Ever Get the "Choose Your Judaism" Moment? + She Chooses Live on Air44:45 — "We Found a Sister and She Lives in Canada" — The Message That Changed Everything57:00 — The Birth Father in New Zealand: A Total Surprise Who Welcomed Her Completely1:02:30 — What This Journey Did to Sarit's Jewish Identity1:05:00 — October 7th and the Moment She Knew She Was Chosen to Be Jewish1:07:00 — Expanding Your Heart: Adding Family Without Replacing Family1:13:00 — Dave's Question of the Week: Get Lost for a Day — Where Do You Go?Please rate and review The Carpool Guys!You can email us at [email protected] us on Instagram @carpoolguyspodSend us a question, a comment, birthday wish, shoutout, or anything else fun and positive, and maybe we'll feature your addition on the next episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast!