Jewish Women Condemn Partial-Birth Abortion in Letter to Congress
By Liz Townsend

Over 30 prominent Jewish women signed a forceful statement urging Congress to override President Clinton's veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Signers include columnist Mona Charen, author Midge Decter, actress Lainie Kazan, and singer/impressionist Marilyn Michaels.

"As women, we are responsible for bringing life into the world and for nurturing that life," the statement asserts. "There is no place in a humane society for this practice, which requires delivery of the entire baby with the exception of the head before it is brutally destroyed."

"As a Jewish woman myself, I am gratified to know that other Jewish women and rabbis have joined the millions of people across the country decrying this horrific procedure," said Marice Rosenberg, who is an at-large director to the NRLC board of directors. "Their participation can only heighten awareness among members of Congress that the tide has turned and the people want partial-birth abortion banned."

The statement, sent to members of Congress in early June, is the second major project of the Institute for Religious Values. The institute previously sponsored a statement signed by Conservative, Reform, and Orthodox rabbis condemning partial-birth abortion. So far, over 100 rabbis have added their names to the statement.

"Our plan is to engage the Jewish community in an ongoing dialogue through Jewish peer groups," said Chris Gersten, president of the institute.

"Through these two statements, there has been a great deal of discussion and debate in the Jewish community."

Sandi Merle, a writer and lyricist, helped Gersten contact rabbis and women for the statements and signed the most recent one. "Some people have told me that since I am a Jewish female in the arts, I should be 'pro-choice,' " Merle told NRL News.

"But I see that as three reasons to be pro-life," she added. "As a Jew, I have a mandate to help those who need help. As a female and a mother, I have been on the responsible end of the umbilical cord. And the role of the arts is to provoke thought."

To continue to provoke thought about life issues, Merle founded an organization called Standing Together Opposing Partial-Birth (STOP). STOP's mission is to educate people, especially those in the arts, about the gruesome procedure. "I don't like to use the word 'abortion' to refer to it," said Merle. "I consider partial-birth the delivery of a child followed by an act of horror."

Other signers are equally appalled by the horror of partial-birth abortion. "The Jewish tradition is one of reverence for life," Charen said, according to an Institute for Religious Values press release. "Abortion is permitted only to save the life of the mother. Partial-birth abortion must be abhorrent to all who honor Jewish teachings."

"I cannot believe that anyone born, raised, and educated in this country could participate in such a barbaric ritual," added Suzanne Schachter, one of the nation's leading youth talent agents.

Although some of the women said they consider themselves "pro- choice," Gersten said that all the signers recognized the brutality of the partial-birth procedure. "Once a description was made of this procedure," he said, "they were horrified."

The Institute for Religious Values plans to place ads in Jewish newspapers in states served by Jewish senators who voted to sustain Clinton's veto. (Only one Jewish senator, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, cast his vote to override it.) The ads will highlight the statements signed by the rabbis and the women, and encourage all members of the Jewish community to engage in a dialogue about partial-birth abortion and the life issues.

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