Posted on 02/18/2023 1:47:42 PM PST by ebb tide
In many Christian congregations, abortion has been endlessly described as an unmitigated evil.
This weekend, Jewish congregations gathering for Shabbat services will make sure American Jews know and understand the Jewish point of view on the medical procedure.
Across the country, at more than 1,200 synagogues, Jews will be discussing abortion and reproductive rights in sermons, lectures, talks and other forums Friday and Saturday (Feb. 17-18) as part of Repro Shabbat.
The effort, so named by the National Council of Jewish Women, which first piloted the annual observance three years ago, is expected to be the largest so far following the overturning of Roe v. Wade last summer.
“The Jewish community is overwhelmingly in favor of abortion rights,” said Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, scholar in residence at the National Council for Jewish Women. “But a lot of Jews don’t know what Judaism says about abortion and reproductive freedom.”
Repro Shabbat is an effort to push back against the prevailing view that abortion is religiously forbidden and to shore up the Jewish belief that abortion is permissible and, on occasion, even required. The date of Repro Shabbat was intentionally chosen for the Torah reading recited in most synagogues each February from the 21st chapter of Exodus.
In that chapter, which addresses penalties for accidentally causing a woman to miscarry, the sentence for an induced miscarriage is financial. The loss of a fetus is not treated as manslaughter or murder because the fetus is not considered a person with full human rights until it is born.
The Repro Shabbat logo. Courtesy image
In post-biblical Jewish law, such as the Mishnah and the Talmud, rabbis further stipulated that the life of the pregnant person takes precedence over the life of the fetus, up until a baby’s first breath.
A poll of Jewish voters prior to the November 2020 midterm election found that 82% of Jewish registered voters disapproved of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Supreme Court ruling, which found the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. An earlier Pew Research poll found that 83% of American Jews favor keeping abortion legal in all or most cases.
RELATED: Poll: Jewish voters are highly motivated and concerned about American democracy
Abortion has now become a contested religious freedom issue. At least three lawsuits have been filed by Jewish groups in Kentucky, Florida and Indiana, arguing that state abortion bans infringe on their religious freedom by imposing a Christian understanding of when life begins.
“This idea that one religion is dictating the conversation — and making it look like those that don’t agree with their stance aren’t moral — is ridiculous,” said Heidi Tyson, president of Judea Reform Congregation in Durham, North Carolina. “We need to educate folks that that’s not the case.”
Judea Reform is participating in Repro Shabbat with a guest speaker who will give the sermon on reproductive rights, followed by a reception. The congregation’s board of trustees will soon consider a formal statement on abortion rights. It has also encouraged members to donate to Carolina Abortion Fund, which provides financial and emotional support to people in North and South Carolina trying to access abortion.
In Massachusetts, some three dozen synagogues are participating in Repro Shabbat individually and coming together online Saturday evening for a service that will provide information on ways to get involved in the fight for greater abortion rights.
“We’re giving people avenues so they can acknowledge the setbacks but keep going and make a path forward,” said Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch of Temple Anshe Amunim in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, who will lead the online service.
In St. Louis, some Jewish congregations have partnered with abortion clinics across the Missouri state line in Illinois to provide clothing, feminine hygiene products and snacks to women traveling out of state for an abortion.
The National Council of Jewish Women first envisioned Repro Shabbat in 2020 after a previous Supreme Court ruling — June Medical Services v. Russo — made its leader anxious about the future of abortion rights. Later that year, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died and was replaced with Amy Coney Barrett, a conservative justice thought to be open to overturning legal abortion. The first Repro Shabbat was held in 2021 with about 350 participating synagogues.
This year, the National Council of Jewish Women is encouraging people to publicly tell their abortion stories. It has produced a comprehensive set of resources to help congregations and individuals plan for Repro Shabbat, including a Spotify playlist of related music, with songs such as “You Don’t Own Me,” by Lesley Gore; “Respect,” by Aretha Franklin; and “About Damn Time,” by Lizzo.
The council estimates some 2,500 people have downloaded its Repro Shabbat resources.
“I want our community to get an infusion of energy about what’s possible now,” said Ruttenberg, who helped create Repro Shabbat. “It’s really important we show up now. Our rights are being infringed and we have a very unique voice in this moment.”
RELATED: 3 Jewish women file suit against Kentucky abortion bans on religious grounds
Thou shalt not murder, unless it’s convenient.
Jews, sacrificing their children to Molech since 1350 BC. /s
I think this is similar to the Christian Churches with a Lesbian Pastor. Sure 82% of jews support abortion, but 95% of Jews aren’t religious.
Ben Shapiro will be asked about this, I’m sure.
I bet the % of Jewish women having abortions is very low. They’re ok with the goyim destroying their own unborn since it aligns with the lieberal, leftist agenda. The DemoRat Party is their real, sacred religion and denomination.
(sharing “Judeo-Christian” values)
That’s with Orthodox and Conservative Jews
Not baby-killing morons like these liberals
“Abortion should be legal until the fetus starts medical school”
Do they share the acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is God, and He is their only savior?
Prager's Orthodox Jewish view is that the fetus is "not nothing" and "not just a blob of flesh," but neither is it equal in value to a fully born human being.
He thinks that feminists go too far in saying that "it's nothing," but neither does he embrace the Christian view.
Only if they’re Messianic
Verse 28 tells us and we are not surprised most are still rejecting the Messiah
Romans 11:28-33
King James Version
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+11%3A28-33&version=KJV
Why the sarc tag?
Not all Jews are guilty of this, many are not.
As a side bar, this nation is on the brink of the same fate. Just recently a statue was put up in front of the NY Justice building that is nearly like one of the false gods that Jews worshipped when they were not adhering to God's laws and commandments.
Also, one of their favorite false gods to worship was a calf or bull. Re: Excdus.
There is a statue of a bull in front of the NY Stock Exchange.
Says it all!!!
“..by imposing a Christian understanding of when life begins.”
No you dweebs it imposes THE scientific understanding when life begins.” You may be thinking of personhood, the beginning of which is debated even among Christians. But when life begins is plainly established by science.
Did you miss the whole they’re Jewish?
Apparently you missed the post I was responding to.
Do they make the same arguments from the same texts and authorities about, oh, say, Sabbath observance, keeping kosher, and ‘family purity’?
No, they don’t. In other words, they’re lying about why they believe what they believe.
Here’s an actual rabbi, rooted in actual, living, Jewish teachings:
https://www.frontpagemag.com/torah-unborn-children-rabbi-chananya-weissman/
“...it imposes THE scientific understanding when life begins.”
Correct. This is not a religious issue, that has really always kind of annoyed me, it’s a scientific issue.
I once had a friend who said she knew my opposition to abortion was based on religion, but I told her that was 100% wrong. I said: if the Pope came out tomorrow and said it was OK to have an abortion, I would be happy to tell him he was 100% wrong too.
Abortion kills people like you.
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