Healthcare, including safe, legal abortion, is a Jewish value. The decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade on June 24 resulted in a reproductive equity crisis in the United States. In keeping with tikkun olam, TBE has responded by creating TBE Congregants for Reproductive Justice under the guidance of Rabbi Harper and Cantor Zell.

To quote Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg: “Many Jewish values can and should factor into our understanding of the importance of abortion access for all. Dignity, avoiding pain, valuing relationships, and other factors—including also, perhaps, our Jewish mandate to pursue the creation of a more just society—should be present as we consider both individual cases and larger systems… We must not remain idle while barriers to health care place any individual’s health, well-being, autonomy or economic security at risk. Reproductive justice is a Jewish issue.”

The goals of TBE Congregants for Reproductive Justice include providing education, resources, and advocacy relating to reproductive health and equity. During the High Holy Days, we look to the sounding of the shofar as a call to action. We invite you to join us on October 21 for an educational panel focusing on the legal, political, and healthcare ramifications of a post-Roe world. Following Shabbat services and dinner, this program will touch on the above topics and lay the foundation for the Racial Justice Initiative’s deeper dive into the crisis of black maternal health and mortality on October 24. Finally, we remind you about the opportunity to become involved in the upcoming November elections by sending postcards to encourage voter registration and supporting candidates who value reproductive equity.

Photo caption: Members for Reproductive Justice Include: Marjorie Freiman, Ediss Gandelman, Amy Gorin, Marilyn Komessar, Abigail Posner and Meredith Ross. Photo from blog: https://rac.org/blog/harm-coming-jewish-communities-states-repressive-laws