There is widespread agreement among scholars and rabbinical authorities that the right to an abortion is accepted and supported across Jewish law and tradition. Even in the most conservative interpretations of Jewish law, many agree that an abortion to save the life of the pregnant person is permitted. As we try to understand what the recent Supreme Court ruling means for our country and our lives, here are resources to examine this complex issue through a Jewish lens. The following guide outlines statements from various Jewish movements in North America, information from many other Jewish organizations, and resources for action on these issues and for reproductive and abortion care.
*These statements reflect information from the various organizing bodies that released them and in no way represent any individual belief and interpretation.
The vast majority of progressive to moderate views within Judaism find the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade to be against Jewish values, tradition, and understanding. At large, Jews are the most supportive of abortion rights of any U.S. religious group measured by Pew — 83 percent of Jews support a woman’s right to choose in all or most cases.
Jewish work for social and racial justice is an important factor for many regarding reproductive freedom. Among the organizations that denounce the Supreme Court’s ruling, there is broad agreement that the decision not only goes against Jewish law and tradition, but also disproportionately impacts those already facing discriminatory obstacles to health care and other human rights, including Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, people with disabilities, people in rural areas, undocumented people, and low-income people – people in the Jewish community and beyond.
Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Since 1967, the URJ and The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) have advocated for reproductive health care access and rights.
Union for Reform Judaism
The Reform Movement’s advocacy around reproductive rights is grounded in careful reading of text and tradition. It is due to the fundamental belief in the sanctity of life and the Jewish value of kavod ha’briyot, respect for human dignity, that abortion is sometimes viewed as both a moral and necessary decision.
Other resources from the Union for Reform Judaism:
- https://rac.org/press-room/reform-movement-leaders-denounce-supreme-courts-decision-dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-0
- https://rac.org/blog/path-forward-abortion-resource-guide
- https://rac.org/jewish-values-and-position-reform-movement-reproductive-rights
- https://rac.org/issues/reproductive-health-and-rights
More about the URJ: https://urj.org/who-we-are/organizations-reform-movement
Reconstructionist Movement
The RRA and Reconstructing Judaism have long supported access to abortion care as a human right. We know that this decision will disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous and people of color as well as LGBTQ+ individuals and others already marginalized who face enormous obstacles in accessing health care.
More about Reconstructing Judaism: https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org
Conservative Movement and the Rabbinical Assembly (RA)
The RA is outraged by the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to end the Constitutional right to abortion and deny access to lifesaving medical procedures for millions of individuals in the U.S., in what will be regarded as one of the most extreme instances of governmental overreach in our lifetime … Based on our understanding of Jewish tradition and religious freedom, the RA supports the right to full access for all those who need abortions to the entire spectrum of reproductive healthcare and opposes all efforts by governmental, private entities, or individuals to limit or dismantle such access.
- https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/conservative-rabbis-strongly-condemn-us-supreme-court-decision-overturn-abortion-rights
- https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/resources-reproductive-freedom
- https://www.wlcj.org/resolution/right-to-choose/
More about Conservative Judaism: https://uscj.org
Alliance for Jewish Renewal
We at ALEPH are outraged and dismayed by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, which has provided safe and legal abortions for 49 years, thereby enshrining reproductive rights. Reproductive freedom is a Jewish value. According to Jewish law, abortion is not only permitted in at least some circumstances, but even required if the life of the pregnant person is at risk. Prohibiting abortion places greater value on the life of the fetus than on the pregnant person, a violation of both Jewish law and tradition and of American religious liberty.
More about Jewish Renewal: https://aleph.org/what-is-jewish-renewal/
Orthodox Judaism
As currently construed, most Orthodox conceptions of Jewish law do not support a person’s right to choose an abortion on their own. Over time, the definition of when pregnancy jeopardizes the pregnant person’s life has expanded to include severe pain and suffering, including mental health. This is as far as traditional Orthodox halacha (Jewish law) goes. Still, leaders of the Open Orthodoxy movement, which seeks to liberalize Orthodox Judaism, recently wrote that they respect pregnant people’s rights to decide how to proceed.
Open Orthodoxy
Open Orthodoxy is a Jewish religious movement with increased emphasis on intellectual openness and a more expansive role for women.
As Orthodox rabbis, we are devastated by the news that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. If this happens, states will be free to pass laws to prohibit or strictly limit abortion, and approximately 25 of them are prepared to do so or already have. Such legislation would impact the lives of tens of millions of women. It would also be an unconscionable infringement on the religious freedom of Orthodox Jews.
- https://www.jta.org/2022/05/19/opinion/overturning-roe-would-be-an-unconscionable-infringement-on-the-religious-freedom-of-orthodox-jews
- https://www.yeshivatmaharat.org
- https://www.yctorah.org
Rabbinical Council of America (RCA)
The RCA is the leading organization of Orthodox rabbis in North America.
The recent decision by the United States Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs Wade has elicited intense emotions ranging from elation to despair. Given the gravity of the matter, the nuance of the perspective on this subject in Jewish law, and the fierce division of the American public regarding this issue, the Rabbinical Council of America believes that our response as Orthodox Jews must be carefully measured.
On the one hand, Jewish law does not countenance abortion on demand and hence limiting this phenomenon can be seen as a positive development. On the other hand, Jewish law gives greater latitude to permitting abortions than presently advocated by those who oppose them.
More on the RCA: https://rabbis.org
Other Orthodox groups have taken a hard stance in favor of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, but even Agudath Israel of America, an arm and voice of American Orthodox Jewry, while supporting the Supreme Court decision, provides a nuanced view:
To be sure, there are certain extraordinary circumstances where our faith teaches that a woman should terminate her pregnancy. Agudath Israel fully supports her right to abortion in such situations, both as a matter of constitutional free exercise and moral principle. However, it must be reiterated that these cases are indeed extraordinary, rare exceptions to the rule that fetal life is entitled to protection.
Other Jewish Groups that Support Reproductive Rights and Freedom
National Council of Jewish Women
The NCJW is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice. It is the oldest Jewish women’s grassroots organization in the country and works in the US and Israel.
From the NCJW:
NCJW works to ensure that every single person can make their own moral and faith-informed decisions about their body, health, and future. Our Jewish values compel us to support full access to safe and legal abortion care as basic health care. Here is a Q&A regarding some common misconceptions about Judaism and abortion:
- https://www.ncjw.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Judaism-and-Abortion-FINAL.pdf
- https://www.jewsforabortionaccess.org
- More on NCJW: https://www.ncjw.org
Haddasah
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA), is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the US. HWZOA brings women together to effect change and advocate for such critical issues as ensuring the security of Israel, combating antisemitism and promoting women’s health.
The Supreme Court’s decision is an attack on American women and their rights to health care, privacy and autonomy. Without federal protection for their rights, women across the country could now be barred from making their own health decisions under a patchwork of inconsistent state laws. Hadassah … reaffirms its unwavering support for full and complete access to reproductive health services and the right to make decisions based on each woman’s religious, moral and ethical values.
More on Haddasah: https://www.hadassah.org
And More
- Hillel International
- Mazon, A Jewish Response to Hunger
- Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
- Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
- B’nai B’rith International
- Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
- Jewish Council for Public Affairs
- SVIVAH
The following resources offer vast information on receiving abortion care, supporting providers and abortion seekers, and participating in advocacy efforts and more: