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Genesis 9:6-7
The Hebrew word ba'adam literally means 'in the human being', not by the human being. Let's be honest. Judaism prohibits abortion and Torah gives no permission for it.
The authentic and true meaning of Genesis 9:6-7 is given to us by Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha Nachmani zt"l, (Rabbi Ismael) the Greatest Of All Time rabbi who lived in the years 80-110 CE.
"Whoso sheddeth the blood of man, within man shall his blood be shed" rather than "Whoso sheddeth the blood of man, by man [i.e., through a human court] shall his blood be shed." Rabbi Ishmael queries, "Who is a man within a man? … A fetus within the womb of the mother."
שֹׁפֵךְ֙ דַּ֣ם הָֽאָדָ֔ם בָּֽאָדָ֖ם דָּמ֣וֹ יִשָּׁפֵ֑ךְ כִּ֚י בְּצֶ֣לֶם אֱלֹהִ֔ים עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־הָֽאָדָֽם:
בָּאָדָם literally means 'in the human being.'
Tosafot deduces that this practice is prohibited to Jews as well by virtue of the talmudic principle, "Is there anything which is forbidden to a Noachide yet permitted to a Jew?" Application of this principle clearly establishes a biblical prohibition.[against abortion]
Rabbi J David Bleich. Contemporary Halakhic Problems. Vol I Part II. Chapter XV
"May it be Your will that Your mercy overcome Your anger, and that Your mercy prevail over Your other attributes, so that You deal with Your children with the attribute of mercy rather than by strict judgment." (Berachot, 7a)
Many contemporary rabbis do not agree that Noahide Laws apply to Jews. We fully support Rabbi Ishmael's interpretation and surmise that disregarding his opinion has caused great harm to Jews and Judaism. May his memory - and his wisdom and mercy - be a blessing to all!
Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik zt"l has great wisdom. He says, “The Torah is compared to the sneh, the Burning Bush, because “fire gives heat, light and devours fuel, but the light of Torah must only give warmth and light, love and hope; it must never be used to destroy or kill. This is not Torah; it is a perversion of Torah.”
Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik and NCSY—An Appreciation
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Cecily Routman
May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and good life upon us and upon all Israel. Amen.
Cecily Routman is the founder and president of the Jewish Pro-Life Foundation. She opposes abortion homicide in general and among Jews in particular and laments secular policy making in Israel that results in loss of Jewish life and delays the messianic redemption. Cecily envisions a Torah based holy Land of Israel and a world that respects the life of every human being from conception.
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