Opinion: For San Diego Jews, The End Of Roe V. Wade Erodes Religious Liberty

By Editor, Times of San Diego

June 27, 2022

Editor’s Note: This statement was prepared and signed by more than 45 members of the San Diego Jewish community.

Jewish tradition is grounded in obligation and responsibility to ourselves, one another, and our community. As Jewish communal professionals and clergy, we understand Jewish approaches to autonomy and community have long protected the rights of reproductive freedom and justice, as exemplified by cases where health, wellness, and life are at stake.

Jewish experience tells us that our reproductive freedoms are integrally bound to our religious liberty. At the core of the Jewish tradition is the affirmation of the sanctity of life. Further, the tradition recognizes that life does not begin at conception and the wellbeing (spiritual, emotional, and physical) of the parent takes precedence over an unborn fetus.

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade not only undermines 50 years of legal precedent, but this ruling also stands squarely in the face of the foundational American principle of religious freedom, which affects everyone in the Jewish community. The decision negates decades of progress in the fight for women’s rights, and the recognition of women as whole and autonomous human beings.

The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is deeply painful and distressing to millions, and will have an immediate, lasting, and irreversible impact for all women and those in need of reproductive care across the country. This ruling will exacerbate the reproductive restrictions and health outcome disparities that already disproportionately impact those in communities with less access to healthcare including low-income communities, communities of color, rural communities, immigrants, LGBTQ+, the disabled, and those who are being abused by partners or family members.

In the coming days, months, and years we will continue to fight and advocate for our Jewish values that maintain religious freedom, cherish life, dignity, and enshrine the individual’s rights to make their own reproductive choices according to their own conscience. May we find the redemptive strength and courage to restore that which has been stripped away.

Ilene Bernstein and Joan Rosenberg, San Diego Area co-Presidents, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America Pam Ferris, President & CEO, Seacrest Village Retirement Communities Karen Foster Silberman, Chair, Jewish Women’s Foundation Heidi Gantwerk, President and CEO, Jewish Federation of San Diego County Michael Hopkins, CEO Jewish Family Service of San Diego Michael Rabkin Betzy Lynch, CEO Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus Nicole Nevarez, Executive Director, Ta’amod Karen Parry, Executive Director, Hillel of San Diego Charlene Seidle, Executive Vice President, The Leichtag Foundation Beth Sirull, President and CEO, Jewish Community Foundation Buddy Voit, Executive Director, Camp Mountain Chai Rabbi Richard Agler Rabbi Gabi Arad, Jewish Collaborative of San Diego Rabbi Cantor Arlene Bernstein, Congregation Beth Israel Rabbi Alexis Berk, Temple SolelRabbi Aliza Berk Rabbi Michael Berk Rabbi Lenore Bohm Rabbi David Castiglione, Temple Adat Shalom Rabbi Ralph Dalin, Jewish Federation of San Diego Rabbi Joshua Dorsch, Tifereth Israel Synagogue Rabbi Wayne Dosick Rabbi David Frank Rabbi Susan Freeman Rabbi Benj Fried, Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Jeremy Gimbel, Congregation Beth Israel Rabbi Phillip Graubart Rabbi Brad Greenstein Rabbi Ally Jacobson Rabbi David Kornberg, Congregation Beth Am Rabbi Marty Lawson Rabbi Avi Libman Rabbi Mathew Marko, Tifereth Israel Synagogue Rabbi Devorah Marcus, Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Thomas P. Liebschutz Rabbi Scott Meltzer, Congregation Ohr Shalom Rabbi Jason Nevarez, Congregation Beth Israel Rabbi Alexis Pearce Rabbi Yael Ridberg, Congregation Dor Hadash Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel Rabbi Ron Shulman Rabbi Sammy Seid, Congregation Ner Tamid Rabbi Jonathan Stein Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss

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