Stephen Wise Temple stands with a woman’s right to choose
Stephen Wise Temple clergy speak out on Dobbs v. Jackson, reproductive rights, and reproductive justice.
“Be fruitful and multiply.”
—Genesis 1:28
From the earliest words of the Torah, our tradition understands reproduction as a sacred act. All of us who have been—or yearn to be—parents know that it is a process imbued with joy, holiness, and anxiety. We have, many of us, sat in waiting rooms; we have received good news and devastating news, we have walked away with ultrasound pictures to add to baby books, and we have faced decisions we never thought we would need to make.
For thousands of years, however, our tradition has understood that the decision was ours to make, in conversation with our healthcare providers. While there are gradations and nuance, Jewish law is overwhelmingly clear on abortion: It is permitted in most cases; it is required in some. Jewish legal experts have—and will—disagree on when and why abortion is permitted, but our texts are explicit in saying that we prioritize a person’s life—including their physical and mental well-being—over a potential life.
Today, through its ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned almost 50 years of reproductive justice, reversing the precedent set in 1973 by Roe v. Wade and triggering laws that will effectively ban legal abortion altogether in more than 20 states. Many of these laws will ban abortions performed after six weeks even in cases of rape or incest. These changes will affect tens of millions of people around the country who may have to cross state lines to seek reproductive health care, if they are even able to do so. Moreover, lack of access to reproductive care will predominantly affect Black and brown women and families, and those who already struggle economically. Make no mistake: Some of those affected will be Jewish women, who are not only losing their access to reproductive care, but also their freedom to make choices consistent with their religious values.
Today was a devastating blow to anyone who believes in the right to choose; it is also a devastating blow to those of us who live in this country as a religious minority, and who suddenly find the teachings of our tradition and the counsel of our clergy to be at odds with our nation’s highest court.
Both our own Reform Movement as well as our Conservative colleagues have been outspoken about supporting women’s rights and reproductive justice even before 1973. This issue is core to our deeply held principles of equality and personal autonomy.
As painful as this moment is, we know that our task is not to give in to despair but rather to raise our voices and take action. We invite you to join us for a gathering of the broader Jewish community this Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Leo Baeck Temple to mourn, grieve, express our outrage, pray, learn, and be together. And in the coming weeks and months, we will offer our communities opportunities to learn more and get involved. As your clergy and as a community, we will continue to work to ensure that our religious freedom as Jews—in schools, in the public square, and in health care settings—will not be denied.
We know that, for many of you, this decision is personal. Know that we, your clergy, are here for you and your family as you walk through these moments and these decisions. We hope you will reach out to us as and when you need to. As we head into Shabbat, we wish you Shabbat peace—and Shabbat hope.
L’Shalom—
Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback
Cantor Emma Lutz
Rabbi David Woznica
Rabbi Ron Stern
Rabbi Sari Laufer
Rabbi Josh Knobel
Rabbi Eli Herscher
Helpful Resources for Reproductive Rights Advocacy
- The Jewish Center for Justice offers immediate resources on how to donate to various abortion funds, as well as scripts you can use to help lobby national and local representatives.
- The National Council of Jewish Women has a resource page for reproductive health, rights, and justice. It includes talking points, a guide to abortion and Judaism, and rally signs. Find their resource page here.
- Women of Reform Judaism have a reproductive health and rights page with advocacy guides, resolutions, statements, and ways to help kickstart community advocacy around reproductive issues. Find their reproductive rights guide here.
During our Shabbat Evening Service on July 1, Rabbi Josh Knobel used that week’s Torah portion which speaks of a mutiny against Moses and Aaron, as a jumping-off point to discuss our duty to protect reproductive rights, and stand up against injustice when we see it.
When the Torah speaks of the rebellion, its leader, Korach, seems superficially just in his grievance. He and his followers ask, “All among the community are holy, all of us, and Adonai is in our midst. Why then, do you, Moses and Aaron, raise yourselves above Adonai’s congregation?”
Korach’s motivations are not so altruistic as this invective would seem to indicate. In fact, Korach’s actions show that he isn’t upset that only Moses and Aaron are in charge; rather, Rabbi Josh says, “He’s upset because he isn’t.”
Twice during this episode, God violently intervenes, threatening to destroy the entire congregation before ultimately destroying Korach and his followers. What was the sin of those who did not cast their lot with Korach? Why did God threaten to destroy them, along with the rebels? Because they, too, had sinned. Their sin was that of omission in the face of Korach’s hypocritical appeal and his cynical grab for power: They did not speak up. They did not interject They did not interfere. They did not resist.
In the face of inequity and injustice, we can act, and indeed, the Torah says, we must.
Rabbi Stephanie Crawley
Excerpted from a Prayer for our Mothers for Reproductive Justice
By Rabbi Stephanie Crawley
God of our Mothers
God, and our mothers – we call on you now –
God of Sarah –
who noticed and saw her when she was struggling with infertility
Who aided her to have a child when she wanted it
Be with us now
God of Rebecca
Who gave strength and comfort during a difficult pregnancy
Be with us now
God of Rachel
Who suffered and suffered for a child and then died while giving birth –
Help us to not have to make that same choice
Be with us now
God of Dinah –
Do not abandon us when we have had our bodies stolen from us through violence and subjugation
Be with us now
God of Shifra and Puah –
the midwives who served Israelite mothers despite any evil decree
Give us the strength to fight back and continue supporting women
Be with us now
God of Yocheved – the mother of Moses
Help us maintain the choice to bring children into the world only when we want to –
Only when we’ve decided that the world is right
Be with us now
God of Devorah
Help us create systems of justice that serve us
That keep our desires and needs at the center
Be with us now
God of the daughters of Zelophehad –
Teach us the sacred power of partnership
Of showing up together
Of reminding us what we can do when we are united in a just cause
Be with us now
God of Hannah,
Who thought she only had worth because of her womb
Teach us to see our value in our wholeness
Be with us now
God of our Mothers –
Who saw and held their dreams
who sat with them as they were captive to the small mindedness of their time
Be with us now