Rabbanit Adena Berkowitz
Jewish Law on Abortion
Summary
Dr. Adena Berkowitz discusses Jewish perspectives on abortion, contextualizing recent events like the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v Wade. She also explores historical legal cases and the evolution of abortion laws in the United States, highlighting shifts in interpretations and state regulations, as well as rabbinic discussions on the beginning of life, citing references from the Talmud that distinguish stages of fetal development and the connection between the fetus and the mother. Throughout the discussion, she emphasizes the complexity of Jewish views on abortion, underscoring the nuanced perspectives within Jewish law on this contentious issue.
Rabbanit Adena Berkowitz
Rabbanit Dr. Adena Berkowitz is a scholar in residence at Kol Haneshamah, an organization dedicated to reenergizing the spiritual lives of both affiliated and not yet affiliated Jews, and a senior educator at the Manhattan Jewish Experience. With a background in law, Jewish studies, and psychotherapy, Rabbanit Berkowitz is the author of the best-selling The Jewish Journey Haggadah and coeditor of Shaarei Simcha: Gates of Joy, a mini prayer book and the first liturgical work written by Orthodox women in the modern era. A practicing therapist, she lives in New York City with her husband, Rabbi Zev Brenner, and children.
I think the problem for Jewish women, from a halachic point of view, if they live in a state that doesn’t give any exemption for reasons on having an abortion, they’re going to have to go elsewhere. That’s why people are trying to set up a fund.
I do think that a number of them do believe that life begins at conception so therefore it could be from their faith point of view. However, I think they’re seeing it in the constitutional terms, but they’re seeing it from a prism that allows a state decide. But to have states where there’s no exception for the life or health of the mother, for rape or incest, then that would seem to imply that life begins at conception and that would not be in a multicultural country. Because then that’s the problem. Our religious liberties then are being constricted.
Recently, a synagogue filed a lawsuit. I don’t know if they could be deemed to have standing, but I’m wondering if that will come back to the Supreme Court. A case that said, “My religious liberties agreement infringe upon.” The composition of this court takes religious liberties very seriously, so I’m wondering if down the road they think, “Oh, we’re not going to have a lot of trouble from this.”