Gentiles, Please Stop Weaponizing Judaism Against Abortion

Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

There’s a narrative that’s formed. Jewish people support abortion rights, therefore the end of Roe v. Wade violates religious freedom.

For the most part, this is true. Over 80% of Jewish people in America are pro choice.

The Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor of Bounton Beach is suing Florida over its 15 week abortion ban (alongside Planned Parenthood) on exactly those grounds.

Unfortunately, I’m starting to see Gentiles using religious Jews (and secular Jews who often share the opinions of mainstream Judaism) as a weapon.

Please stop. As a secular European Jew, I would like to explain why:

Judaism Is Not Universally Pro Choice

If you ask two Jews a theological or philosophical question, you’ll get three answers. It’s a stereotype routed in truth.

Judaism is no more a monolith than Christianity and we run the gamut from Jewitches who combine Jewish culture and pagan beliefs, to atheists (who sometimes still celebrate Passover) to Reform Jews to the ultra-Orthodox who won’t even let their daughters wear pants!

In Orthodox Judaism, abortion is, to my knowledge, allowed only if the pregnant person’s life is in danger.