http://www.mnment.com/judaism/sex.php
Abortion
Jewish law not only permits, but in some circumstances requires abortion. Where the mother's life is in jeopardy because of the unborn child, abortion is mandatory.
An unborn child has the status of "potential human life" until the majority of the body has emerged from the mother. Potential human life is valuable, and may not be terminated casually, but it does not have as much value as a life in existence. The Talmud makes no bones about this: it says quite bluntly that if the fetus threatens the life of the mother, you cut it up within her body and remove it limb by limb if necessary, because its life is not as valuable as hers. But once the greater part of the body has emerged, you cannot take its life to save the mother's, because you cannot choose between one human life and another.
i found this online while looking for a mikvah, long story.
so, i thought we should discuss it. we often tout the judao-christian connection, but i really don't think we pay enough attention to the differences.
i thought it would be interesting to discuss other circumstances in which it would be required to abort. it should include source material, as this should be educational, since i know of precisely one jew on this board and i don't think i've seen him in a while. if it is required by one's religion to abort, then laws against abortion would not only defy a woman's right to private medical treatment, but also her first amendment right to religious expression.
so. can we discuss this without alleging that jews are wanton baby-killers?
Edited by brennakimi, : No reason given.
Edited by brennakimi, : No reason given.
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