Orthodox Rabbis Oppose Texas Senate Bill 8
We, the undersigned Orthodox rabbis, respond with alarm to the 2021 Texas Senate Bill 8 which effectively bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy (four weeks from conception).
Jewish law shows the utmost concern for life and potential life. Our communities are emphatically pro-natal, celebrating new lives and investing heavily in the education and moral development of our children. At the same time, there are cases where Jewish law requires aborting a pregnancy. Abortions are devastating, and we counsel them in situations where tragedy is nearly inevitable or has already occurred. But tragedies happen, and abortion is a medical procedure used by Jews since antiquity to mitigate dire outcomes and protect life.
Under SB8, Texan Jews are not able to protect a mother’s life in accordance with the ancient laws of our faith. The new Texas law is cruel to all women, and for Jewish women it constitutes a violation of their constitutionally protected right to practice religion and of their unalienable rights to pursue life, liberty and happiness as understood by Jewish law and practice.
We call upon Texan lawmakers to reverse SB8 immediately, leaving decisions about abortion in the hands of women, their healthcare providers, and any religious and spiritual guidance they choose to seek out.
The Undersigned:
Rabbanit Leah Sarna
Rabbi Barry Dolinger
Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez
Rabbi Michael Stein
Rabbi Marianne Novak
Rabbi Asher Lopatin
Rabbi Loren Berman
Rabbi Gabriel Kretzmer Seed
Rabba Dr. Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz
Rabbi Michael Chernick
Rabbi Alana Suskin
Rabbanit Dr. Liz Shayne
Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg
Rabbi Steve Greenberg
Rabbi David Kalb
Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz
Rabbi Eryn London
Rabbi Ami Silver
Rabbi Dr. Reb Mimi Feigelson
Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller
Rabbi Dr. Aviad Yehiel Hollander
Rabbi Micha Odenheimer
Rabbi Jeffrey S. Fox
Rabbi Yitzhak Ajzner
Maharat Ruth Friedman
Rabbi Daniel Silverstein
Rabbi Avram Herzog
Rabba Amalia Haas
Rabbi David Jaffe
Darshanit Dr. Miriam Udel
Rabbi Jack Nahmod
Rabbi Pinchas Giller
Rabbi David Kasher
Rabbi Shamir Caplan
Rabbi Avraham Bronstein
Rabbi Dr. Wendy Zierler
Rabba Claudia Marbach
Rabbi David Fain
Rabbi Atara Cohen
Rabbi Shimon Brand
Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, Ph.D
Rabbi Menashe East
Rabbi Michael Langer
Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe
Rabbi Tyson Herberger
Rabbi Dr. Zev Farber
Rabbi Meesh Hammer-Kossoy, Ph.D
Rabba Ramie Smith
Rabbi Dina Najman
Rabbi Zach Truboff
Rabbi Tali Adler
Rabbi Hayim Leiter
Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo
Rabbi Avram Mlotek
Rabbi Avi Katz Orlow
Rabbanit Yael Smooha
Maharat Miriam Gonczarska
Rabbi Yehoshua Engelman
Rabbi Eliezer Finkelman