Monday, May 9, 2022
8 Iyyar 5782
To our WRT Family:
Many of you have expressed concern about significant changes to women's rights signaled by the leaked United States Supreme Court draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that, fifty years ago, guaranteed a woman’s right to determine her own reproductive process.
The blessing and joy of motherhood and womanhood celebrated on Mother’s Day is now juxtaposed with the sadness, fear, and anger that many of us feel. Our nation, already politically and ideologically divided, will only grow more polarized if and when this decision is filed.
As a rabbi and as a lawyer, we have both been trained to interpret and apply laws (whether the laws of Jewish tradition or the laws that our legislators write and pass) with an eye toward equity and justice. In our view, this draft decision reveals that patriarchal notions and systemic inequalities still permeate our society.
In his draft opinion, Justice Alito focuses almost exclusively on the rights of the fetus, relying on a history of laws that criminalized abortion, all but one of which were enacted before women were granted the right to vote.
Judaism, in contrast, views abortion not as a crime against a living fetus, but as a form of health care for the mother. Time and again, Jewish sacred texts, traditions, and laws (halakha) affirm that the life of an expecting mother must be protected over that of the fetus. The paramount consideration of the health of the mother is expanded by the Rabbis of the Talmud, Medieval commentaries and law codes, and modern Jewish legal opinions to include not just her physical health, but mental health as well.
In Judaism, independent life begins at birth; until birth, the fetus is regarded as part of the mother’s body, with no independent status of its own. In the Book of Exodus (21:22-23), a case law provides that if two men fight, and injure a pregnant woman, causing a miscarriage, so long as the mother is not injured, the men are assessed a fine. Only if the mother is hurt or killed is the case treated as an assault or homicide. The fetus is not regarded as an independent life.
The public conversation around the Supreme Court decision is already saturated in speculation about the effect it may have on the upcoming election cycle, its undoubted adverse effects on poor women and women of color, and the likelihood that as many as 26 states will ban abortion in full or in part. Over the coming months, we at WRT will pursue the most meaningful, effective, and Jewishly authentic ways to engage these conversations with our congregation and partners in the wider Reform Movement and American Jewish community.
Right now, we invite those who are so moved to find strength in the face of sadness, faith to counter our fear, and action that transcends anger. Let’s join in thinking, learning, praying, and acting together.
We invite those so moved to consider opportunities to raise your voices and “pray with your feet.” The Reform Movement and the National Council of Jewish Women are cosponsoring Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, May 17, which is open to all. You can sign up here.
In addition, Planned Parenthood is planning nationwide “Bans Off Our Bodies” rallies nationwide on May 14. To learn more and/or register, click here.
To read more about the Reform Movement’s response to the draft opinion, visit here.
If you would like to lend financial support, consider donating to the National Network of Abortion Funds, an organization that works to eliminate financial and logistical barriers to women seeking an abortion.
Finally, we are grateful to our own Women of Reform Judaism at WRT, whose annual Spring Luncheon, on May 19th at Noon, will focus awareness and attention on this subject. Rabbi Blake will offer a lecture and discussion entitled, “Jewish Views on Abortion: How our Religious Tradition Responds to One of the Most Controversial Issues of our Time.”
All are welcome (both women and men); WRJ members are covered by their membership dues and registration for others is $24/pp which includes a lovely lunch sponsored by the WRJ. Please register here.
Thank you for joining hands and hearts in WRT’s commitment to Tikkun Olam, the repair of the world.
Rabbi Jonathan E. Blake
Sharon Stiefel, Director of Community Engagement & Social Impact
