Abortion Politics, Spiritual Care, and Jewish Women's Ritual Leadership

How did the 1998 manual for Conservative rabbis come to include a ritual for abortion? Who wrote it, and what was its significance? This class will shed light on a critical piece of liturgy – and a beautiful tool for spiritual care – by tracing the historical context, creation, and reception of “A Grieving Ritual Following Termination of Pregnancy” as it was published in Moreh Derekh: The Rabbis Manual of The Rabbinical Assembly (1998).

The “Grieving Ritual” represented a watershed moment for women’s inclusion in Jewish ritual. Its inclusion in Moreh Derekh also signified a growing desire among American Jews for spiritual engagement throughout all parts of life, as well as broad acceptance of abortion within Conservative Judaism. In grappling with the tensions between grief, autonomy, and the Jewish commandment to "choose life," the ritual directly contradicts the normative political dichotomy of pro-life vs. pro-choice and complicates the widely-held assumption that religion and abortion are inherently at odds.

This class will include a participatory study of the ritual, drawing on sacred text, historical context, and lived experience providing spiritual care to individuals seeking abortion. No prior knowledge or experience is required to attend.

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Rachel Florman is pursuing her MDiv at Harvard Divinity School with a focus on diasporic Jewish community formation and faith-based activism. She is also a class host and intern with the House of Learning here at Lehrhaus! When she’s not working or studying, you can find Rachel hunting down Camberville’s best gluten free desserts and volunteering with her local abortion fund.