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Reproductive Freedom
Reproductive Freedom is a Jewish Value
Vote YES on Amendment 4 in the November 2024 election!
Reproductive Freedom is a Jewish Value
Jewish tradition has consistently taught that access to abortion should not be outlawed. There is currently a 6-week abortion ban in effect in Florida.
Israel’s foremost bioethicist in the 20th century, Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg, wrote that “we may permit an abortion…because of a ‘great need,’ and because of pain and suffering. It is irrelevant how the pain or suffering is expressed, whether physical or psychological. Indeed, psychological suffering is in many ways much greater than the suffering of the flesh.”
Our tradition always places the concern for the mother’s well-being first. The push by the State of Florida, and others around the country, to outlaw abortion extends from a belief that life begins at conception. That is a religious belief that individuals are entitled to. At the same time, our tradition teaches that the question of when life begins is not easily answered. Some sages taught that a soul enters the fetus at the moment of birth, others after 40 days, and some even at the moment of conception. Jewish tradition leaves the question of when life begins open to interpretation and relies on the conscience of individual Jews to answer that question for themselves.
If our State chooses one religious belief as the grounding for a law, it raises a deeper concern for us. We should see this moment to act in defense of our rights to act within accordance of our tradition, and to lean upon its moral conclusions, without interference from the state.
Take Action
Share Reproductive Freedom Cards
Stop by Temple Beth El to pick up YES on 4 cards and share with family and friends much like we did with the petitions. The language in the amendment will be confusing and there will be advertising with contradictory claims leading up to the election. It will be handy to have a card in your pocket with the guidance and wisdom of our rabbis to VOTE YES on 4 to protect both our reproductive and our religious freedoms.
Volunteer at Temple Beth El
Volunteer at Temple Beth El on Friday nights before Shabbat services to hand out YES on 4 Cards, help people check their voter registration, and hand out postcard packets.
Volunteer with RAC-FL
Volunteer with RAC-FL by phonebanking with their Get Out the Vote Campaign.
Voter Registration
Getting enough votes to pass the amendment in the November 2024 election is key. First, we work to make sure that our friends, families and community members are registered to vote. Check your own voter registration, or share the link to register with anyone you can.
Vote By Mail
If you have not renewed your Vote by Mail request since the 2022 election, Florida law requires that you need to renew to get a vote by mail ballot in 2024. Click your county below to renew your Vote by Mail request.
Events
Videos
1/2 videos
1
Reproductive Freedom Town Hall: Vote YES on Amendment 4
01:05:05
2
Reproductive Freedom Town Hall | June 4, 2023
58:48
Resources
“Jewish tradition, however, is very clear that if carrying a fetus threatens the health of the mother, then it is our obligation to terminate that pregnancy to save the mother’s life. And that threat is not necessarily limited to the physical health of the mother but also concerns her mental health.”
– Rabbi Dan Levin
“Our tradition always places the concern for the mother’s well-being first. The push by the State of Florida, and others around the country, to outlaw abortion extends from a belief that life begins at conception. That is a religious belief that individuals are entitled to. At the same time, our tradition teaches that the question of when life begins is not easily answered. Some sages taught that a soul enters the fetus at the moment of birth, others after 40 days, and some even at the moment of conception. Jewish tradition leaves the question of when life begins open to interpretation and relies on the conscience of individual Jews to answer that question for themselves.”
– Rabbi Greg Weisman
If you have questions about this initiative, please contact Susan Stallone, Director of Social Justice.
Watch this class given by Rabbi Dan Levin in June 2022 after the overturning of Roe v. Wade about what Judaism says about a woman’s right to choose.
We Did it!
Reproductive Rights Qualified for the Ballot in November 2024!
The statewide coalition working to protect reproductive freedom in Florida – including Temple Beth El and RAC-Florida – exceeded the number of verified petitions required to get this amendment on the ballot!
1.4 MILLION PETITIONS were collected and over 911,000 have been verified, surpassing the 891,500 petition signatures required by the state to put a ballot initiative before voters. Click here to read the full text of the amendment.
Temple Beth El alone turned in 6675 petitions, thanks to the support of the Board of Trustees, clergy, temple staff and so many volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this happen. We walked our neighborhoods to collect signatures, brought petitions to card games, golf tournaments and tennis matches in our communities, were present at synagogue events and Shabbats, and every week, proofread, counted and drove petitions to the hub in West Palm Beach where they could be verified. Each week, people came to both campuses, sometimes dropping off 2 petitions and at times, 200. We donated our time and passion so that we could make a more fair and free Florida.
