Shine A Light On Life So Others Can Follow

I think most Jews in America hold that abortion should be a legal option. But not that they want abortions to actually occur, per say. Though there is a bloodthirsty element behind the pro-abortion movement, this does not represent the average Jew who supports abortion. We should focus on the Jewish national soul, i.e. their well meaning intentions, not the complicit guilt of some of their political positions.

Jews desire life and not being hurtful to people. And, as many people have expressed that it is hurtful to them to not have freedom to abort, Jews don't want to be hurtful to them. So these Jews who support abortion err on the side of being liberal. Then even if they doubt their own position they may reason, better to not offend the definitely alive than to not give rights to the potentially alive. This is wrong of course, and that is where we can come in and help them correct course and rethink these matters in the correct light.

To equate in anyway that most Jews are part of the bloodthirsty culture of pro-abortionists is a distraction from what could be achieved by messaging in a path that is more conducive and helpful in retraining the community that there is life in the womb, and we have the power to protect and nurture it, and so we should, and ethically must. 

We should try to shape their views, not castigate them, at least at this point. We should prompt them into the proper direction, not insult a lemming attitude, but discuss the ethical void such choices bring onto the practitioners. We should reinforce that pro-life is the right path, and there is support for those who have made mistakes in the past.

The matter is urgent because every day more innocent life is being snuffed out, and all too often, for the mere personal gain of another. So this, I think, is a path we should meditate on and reinforce amongst ourselves, and then teach. We should not settle for mere right wing talking points to rally our troops. Our ideals come from a Higher Source. Politics is only an avenue to communicate and pursue them. We should be a light unto our nation, and thereby they will be the light unto all nations that HaShem desires and told us explicitly. This will also bring great blessing to our efforts in its wake. "Commit your way to the Lord, and trust in Him and He will act. And He will reveal your righteousness like the light, and your judgments like noon."(Psalms 37:5-6)

The majority of people, and certainly Jews want only that which is good and kind, but many need guidance as to the truth of what that means in context to these matters. We are trying to save untold myriads of lives. How amazingly wonderful is that. May Hashem bless all our good efforts.

Rabbi Alan Betsalel Friedlander