This week’s Torah portion, Parshat Mishpatim, contains a discrete section of laws and precepts which scholars call the Covenant Code or Covenant Collection. Over the course of 3 chapters (Ex. 20:19-23:19), the Bible imparts a wide-ranging survey of laws of moral, ethical, and practical import. Afterwards, Moses makes the code binding by way of a public ceremonial reading and the people’s response of, “Na’aseh V’Nishmah” - we will do [what has thus far been commanded of us] and we will listen [to that which is still to come.]
This week, synagogues across the country will be focusing on one of the laws of the Covenant Collection in particular as we join together in our observance of Repro Shabbat (a project of the National Council of Jewish Women.) This law (Ex. 21:22-25), set forth in Parshat Mishpatim, has served as a foundational Jewish articulation in regards to the personhood, or lack thereof, of a fetus for millenia. On Saturday morning, I will look forward to studying this text and other classic Jewish perspectives on reproductive freedom at our weekly 9 a.m. Torah study.
This year, in what would have been the 50th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, it behooves us to reject the reactionary Christian hegemony’s attempt to carry out injustice in our name. Even as the Rhode Island legislature moves towards a broader codification of reproductive freedoms, across the country more than 450 state laws restricting access to reproductive healthcare have been passed since 2011. Reproductive Freedom is a First Amendment issue, abortion is permitted and sometimes even required by halakha (Jewish law.) Abortion is a Jewish issue because it is fundamentally a question of pikuach nefesh (the preservation of life) as well as the values of safety and justice that we hold dear here at TBE.
Our community should be a place where anyone who has, or may ever, terminate a pregnancy feels loved, welcomed, and supported; where we understand what our tradition teaches about these issues; and where we understand the importance of fighting for reproductive health, rights, and justice for everyone. This Repro Shabbat, along with communities across the United States, we say Na’aseh V’Nishmah - we will do and we will listen - as we rededicate ourselves towards building a country where everyone has access to quality, comprehensive reproductive care with dignity.
