Dismantling the Abortion vs. Religion Debate Through an Inclusive Judaism

Bustle (Sept. 14, 2016): This Feminist Rabbi Is Dismantling the Abortion vs. Religion Debate, by Cate Carrejo:

Jewish values emphasize equality and dignity for all people above all.  For Rabbi Lori Koffman this means taking care of everyone's health, economic security and well being.  Reproductive justice is a major part of this value system.

Koffman is the chair of the National Council of Jewish Women's Reproductive Justice Initiative, which is aligned with a national coalition of access-to-abortion groups.  While many see a contradiction between reproductive justice and religious values, Koffman sees them as inextricably intertwined. 

"The decision whether and when to have a family is one of the holiest decisions anyone will ever make," Koffman says. "It really should be up to the woman and her partner if she has one or their partner if they have one and their own religious faith, any religious advisors if they have them, and really nobody else."

Koffman feels strongly that no one's religious values should be allowed to shut down someone else's opposing religious values.  The basis of her commitment to reproductive justice, then, lies in the freedom to choose: "I can exercise my religious belief, because I can then choose to have an abortion or not. Someone who sees the world differently from a religious standpoint, then they can make the choice not to have an abortion because their religious values don't support abortion."  

Koffman will continue speaking out for a reproductive justice that includes a multiplicity of reproductive health choices.