St. Paul, MN - Abandoned Baby Found on Bench at Synagogue

St. Paul, MN - A week-old baby boy was found abandoned Shabbas morning on a bench at the entrance at a St. Paul synagogue.

The child wasn't there when congregants went into the Synagohue of Aaron on 616 South Mississippi River Boulevard for 9 a.m. services, but he was found on the bench about 10 a.m., after services.
One doctor who was at the synagogue at the time examined the infant and said that he appeared healthy, which was confirmed by medical personnel at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of St. Paul, they then placed the baby, who police say is about a week old, in foster care, said Tom Walsh, St. Paul police spokesman.

The mother had left the child with "a very emotional note" that was not being made public, Walsh said. "Clearly, this young women felt that she had no alternative but to give this child up. ... She was very upset that she wasn't going be able to see the baby anymore."
Rabbi Randall Konigsburg said. "We want the mother to know that God is with her, too. Our prayers are with her, wherever she may be. There are a lot of people all over the city of St. Paul who want to help her."

Police are looking for the mother and would like to see her. "Our principal concern is to know the child's health history," Walsh said. "At this point, we are not looking for criminal charges," he said.