Dear Senators:

The below 82 national, state, and local organizations guided by Jewish values write to express our strong and unequivocal support for the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), which would create a new tool for safeguarding access to high-quality care and securing constitutional rights by protecting patients and providers from this dangerous political interference. We need federal legislation now more than ever. With the leaked draft opinion of the Supreme Court signaling its intent to overturn the protections of Roe v Wade, and state bans on abortion being passed across the country, it has never been more critical to act.

In Judaism, we consider pikuach nefesh, the saving and preserving of life, to be one of our most critical principles. We affirm that protecting the existing life of the pregnant person is paramount at all stages of pregnancy. We also know it is profoundly unjust that abortion bans and restrictions fall hardest on those already facing barriers to exercising their human rights — including Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC); those working to make ends meet; members of the LGBTQI+ community; immigrants; young people; those living in rural communities; and people with disabilities.

In Judaism, a fetus does not have the same personhood status as one who is already living and functioning in the world, up until and into the onset of labor and childbirth (Mishnah, Ohalot 7:6). The Talmud (Babylonian Talmud, Yevamot 69b) asserts that the fetus is “mere fluid” for the first 40 days (from conception; that which would be considered 7- or 8-weeks’ gestation by today’s counting) and, following this period, the fetus is regarded as a physical part of the pregnant individual’s body (Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 23b).

This is why we know that the Women’s Health Protection Act — ensuring equal access to abortion nationwide — is a step forward for racial justice, for abortion justice, and for religious freedom. The US Constitution demands that no one religion should be enshrined in law or dictate public policy on any issue, including abortion.

We call on the Senate to support the Women’s Health Protection Act to protect access to abortion and to help us build a society where all can participate equally and thrive in our communities with dignity.

Respectfully,

National Council of Jewish Women

National Organizations
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal

Ameinu

American Jewish World Service

Association of Reform Jewish Educators

Avodah

B the Difference

Bend the Arc: Jewish Action

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Jewish Democratic Council of America

Jewish Women International (JWI)

Jewish Youth Climate Movement

Jews for a Secular Democracy

Keshet

Limitless Judaism

Rabbinical Assembly

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Society for Humanistic Judaism

T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Union for Reform Judaism

Women of Reform Judaism

Women’s Rabbinic Network

Women’s League (Conservative Sisterhoods)

Zioness

State Organizations

Carolina Jews for Justice

Falmouth Jewish Congregation

Hebrew Sr Life

Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action

Jewish Community Action (MN)

National Council of Jewish Women, Virginia

National Council of Jewish Women, Atlanta Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Colorado Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Maryland Action Team

National Council of Jewish Women, Massachusetts State Policy Advocate

National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Nashville Section

National Council of Jewish Women, St. Louis Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Washington State Policy Advocate

Local Organizations

Congregation B’Nai Torah

Congregation Beth Am

Congregation Beth El

Congregation Dorshei Tzedek

Congregation Emeth

Congregation Kol Halev

Congregation Shirat HaYam

Detroit Jews for Justice

Havurat Shalom

Hope Havurah, Colorado

Hope Havurah, Idaho

IKAR

JCADA

Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis

Lab/Shul

Ma’yan Tikvah

Na’aseh, Congregation Beth Elohim

National Council of Jewish Women, Atlanta Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Austin Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Bergen County Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Chicago North Shore Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Dallas Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Long Beach and West Orange County Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Miami Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Philadelphia Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Palm Beach Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section

National Council of Jewish Women, St. Louis Section

Rosenberg Family Trust

Suburban Temple-Kol Ami

Temple Beth Am

Temple Beth Avodah

Temple Chai

Temple Emanu-El

Temple Emanuel

Temple Hillel B’nai Torah

Temple Isaiah

Temple Israel

Temple Shir Tikvah

Temple Sinai

Vassar Temple

Worship and Study Minyan at Harvard Hillel