Rabbi's Blog

Tifereth Israel Community,

As many of you know, this coming Tuesday, May 17 at 9:00 am, there will be a rally in DC to safeguard access to abortion. While this was originally planned prior to the leak of the Supreme Court opinion draft, it has now taken on a more intense attention.

“The Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice” is presented by the National Council of Jewish Women and is also sponsored by both national and local Jewish organizations.
 
As with most issues, it is nearly impossible to succinctly share “the” Jewish view on abortion. While some Jewish perspectives could have issue with a completely unfettered access to abortion, it is fairly universal to say that, as painful as it may be, Judaism allows for (and even mandates) abortion if the mother’s life is in danger. There is much nuance to be considered in making a decision and individuals should seek counsel regarding their particular situation. However, if the Supreme Court does in fact overturn the Roe v. Wade decision, and states enact legislation that outlaws abortion, then the ability to follow our Jewish tradition will be infringed upon.

The importance of this issue has prompted the leadership of Tifereth Israel to sign on as a co-sponsor of the rally.
 
I have already seen on the listserv that there are some from TI who are planning to attend the rally. I also plan to attend and am interested in meeting up with other TI members there. 
The exact location of the rally has not yet been disclosed due to security reasons. When it is, we will determine where is the best place to meet. If you want to get information about a gathering location, please respond to this email and you will be put on a list to be informed when a location and time is determined.
 
For more information about the rally and to register click here.  

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow