Reproductive freedom is a Jewish value. HB 3 puts one religion’s beliefs above all others.
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), with 60 sections and their 180,000 members across this country, has started national movement called 73Forward to support and fight for abortion justice. As long-time proponents of challenging the status quo, NCJW is refusing to let anti-abortionists misuse faith to justify restricting abortion rights and access.
Despite the Constitutional right to abortion guaranteed under Roe V. Wade, our Kentucky legislators are still voting and signing into law restrictions, even outright bans on abortions as well as all reproductive health.
House Bill 3, a sweeping anti-abortion bill that adds extreme regulations and restrictions on pregnant people, doctors, pharmacies, and other services, passed the House on Wednesday. It restricts access to abortions for people under the age of 18 and college students. It also bans receiving abortion medication by mail or shipment and places more restrictions on anyone using medication to end a pregnancy — a practice which accounts for half of all abortions in Kentucky.
Various nonpartisan and distinguished sources like the PEW research recognize over 4000 established religions in the world — most of which approve of abortions, especially when the pregnancy would endanger the mother’s life.
A recent Gallup poll reports that 80% say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases; this becomes higher, 87%, when a woman’s life is in danger and 84% in the case of rape or incest.
While only seven of the major religions outright prohibit abortions in all circumstances, a majority of their worshipers would still allow for exceptions.
Judaism, as well as many other religious groups, does not believe that life begins at conception. Judaism not only permits the termination of pregnancy, but even requires it when the life of the pregnant person is in danger. “Danger” can be defined in multiple ways including both physical and mental health. The mental state of a pregnant person can be as critical as physical health. Reproductive freedom is a Jewish value.
The United States of America was founded, and one of our biggest strengths, is our freedom of religion. So important was the founding fathers’ belief in this, that they made it the First Amendment in our Bills of Rights. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Much of the justification for prohibiting abortion has been rooted in a narrow Christian interpretation that life begins at conception. However, as stated previously, this is not the case in Judaism.
The First Amendment also states that “Congress shall make no law… prohibiting the free exercise” of religion. All these anti-choice bans and restrictions do not affect just a Jewish woman’s rights but denies her religious beliefs while forcing her to abide by other religious practices. Furthermore, these anti-choice bans and restrictions could force a Jewish doctor to renounce his/her religious AND medical beliefs while forcing her/him to abide by other religious doctrines.
The imposition of one religious’ belief to the detriment of all others should concern all people who believe in religious pluralism and religious freedom. For too long, the faith-based narrative around abortion has neglected to include people of faith who believe differently.
NCJW, Louisville Section urges everyone to contact all elected officials, U.S. Senators and Representatives, Kentucky Senators and Representatives, Kentucky Attorney General, to stop imposing particular religious beliefs on the people of the Commonwealth.
Beth Salamon is the State Policy Advocate, NCJW, Louisville Section. Honi Marleen Goldman is Chair of the Government Outreach and Voting Committee of NCJW, Louisville Section.
This story was originally published March 3, 2022 at 10:26 AM.