This is an episode of the JCast Newtork’s series titled “Behind the Ballot Box: Jewish Values and Our Vote.”
Host Rabbi Jesse Olitzky speaks with Sheila Katz, CEO of National Council of Jewish Women, and Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Scholar-in-Residence at NCJW. They discuss NCJW’s #RabbisForRepro campaign, an initiative to encourage Jewish clergy to teach and preach about abortion rights from the bimah. This campaign encourages faith leaders to sign a pledge that, in part, reads:
“In Judaism, the life and well-being of the pregnant person is paramount. Jewish law not only permits the termination of pregnancies but also requires it when the life of the pregnant person is at risk. We must not remain idle while barriers to health care place any individual’s health, well-being, autonomy or economic security at risk. We must speak out, particularly for those facing racism, classism, and ableism when exercising their human rights. Safety, justice, freedoms, and lives are at stake.”
