Summary: <p>The conversation about abortion in this country is strident and polarized. You are either pro-life or pro-choice. Every voice is passionate and convicted. There is no space for nuance.</p> <p>That is why, when the Rabbinical Assembly (RA), the union of Conservative movement rabbis, published their <a href="https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/conservativemasorti-rabbis-denounce-leaked-supreme-court-decision-overturn-abortion-rights" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statement</a> in the wake of the Supreme Court leak, they were unanimous and unequivocally pro-choice. But Jewish tradition, and certainly Jewish law, is never unnuanced. A close reading of the sources reveals that Judaism does not fall neatly into either the pro-life or pro-choice camp. Instead, Jewish sources reveal a third way to engage this issue—we are a tradition that is pro-life, that values the sanctity and holy potential of every spark of life, <em>and </em>we are a tradition that understands the need for medical intervention which can include abortion.</p> <p>This Shabbos, we will be doing a deep dive into the <a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/d3875897501/bfbe251d-1bac-4047-bfe9-6c1145c67045.pdf?rdr=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sources</a> to explore the way our tradition invites reflection, nuanced evaluation, and a sensitivity which is all too often lacking in the political conversation unfolding around us.</p>
