World News: Former Shiloh Mayor David Rubin Answers Questions on The Alabama Abortion Law: What Does Judaism Say

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Category: World News

Published on Wednesday, 15 May 2019 20:37

Written by Gerald McGlothlin

Alabama just passed a bill protecting pre-born babies even in cases of rape and incest, in a trend following Georgia and several other states enacting laws restricting abortion, in stark contrast to the recent on demand New York law.

While New York State law allows abortion all the way up to the day of birth such extreme differences on abortion law, have some in the news media are saying that the battle lines have been drawn: extreme pro-life Catholics and Christians vs. all the enlightened people who care about the rights of women.

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But is that really the case? Aren't Christians entitled to their views? What about Jews? What does the Torah and Jewish law say about this issue?

According to David Rubin, former Mayor of Shiloh, Israel, and author of "Trump and the Jews", the Torah is not explicit about abortion. Therefore, religious Jews rely on rabbinical experts on this, specifically, the most knowledgeable Orthodox rabbis, who spend years examining and debating the complex issues of Jewish law.

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Abortion is one of these complex issues, and there are some differences of opinion, but the consensus is that abortion is like murder, except in the rare cases when the life of the mother is in danger. 

As for other exceptions to the rule, there are a few qualified rabbinical authorities that permit abortion up to 40 days into the pregnancy (when heartbeat usually begins), after which it is not permitted. Therefore, Judaism supports the heartbeat-based laws."

Q&A with David Rubin:

Q: Is Judaism pro-life or pro-choice? 

A: Judaism is pro-life and anti-abortion, except in certain complicated situations.

Q: Is abortion considered murder in Judaism?

A: The consensus is that abortion is like murder, but there are some exceptions to the rule.

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Q: When is abortion allowed? 

A: It's almost always allowed in rare cases when the mother's physical life is truly in danger since her life outweighs the life of the fetus.

Q: What about cases of rape or incest?

A: It is permitted in the first 72 hours, with some holding the opinion that it's permitted up to the 40th day of pregnancy.

Q: Most of the Jews in Congress are Democrats and pretty much support abortion on demand. Does that mean that they are acting against Judaism?

A: If they support abortion on demand, they are acting against Judaism, although I would say that it's probably unintentional. As I've explained in my book, "Trump and the Jews", a majority of American Jews are well-versed in liberal ideology, but not in Judaism.

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Q: Would you say that President Trump's stand has been consistent with the Jewish view of abortion? 

A: President Trump's views have evolved over time, but his current position of being strongly pro-life, with a few qualifications, is basically in sync with Judaism. 

Bio: David Rubin, former Mayor of Shiloh Israel, is the author of the new book, "Trump and the Jews". Rubin is the founder and president of Shiloh Israel Children's Fund, established after he and his then three-year-old son were wounded in a terror attack. He can be found at www.DavidRubinIsrael.com  or at www.ShilohIsraelChildren.org