Chapter 18: Myth—Abortion Doesn’t Matter

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Myth—Abortion Doesn’t Matter

The ancient Rabbis said this is the prohibition of abortion; the “human

(adam) within the human (b’adam)” is the child in the womb. So, this prohibits the taking of a life in the womb. In addition, the Rabbis state that to kill the child in the womb is equivalent to killing all the generations that would have come from that child - so it is morally equivalent to genocide.

The Rabbis point out that this proscription comes within the context of what are called the “Noachides” or commandments of Noah. Even before the Ten Commandments were given at Sinai, there were certain laws, according to the Rabbis, that were given through Noah and were binding on all men.

Among them, no man may take an innocent life even if this is the only way to save his own.

This is what the prohibition against abortion was based upon. This was also

directly connected to the duty to have children: Gen 9:1,7 “Be fruitful and increase.”

This puts the lie to the oft-repeated fallacy that while Christianity is mostly

pro-life, Judaism is mostly pro-choice. Even in modern Judaism, abortion is permitted only if there is a direct threat to the life of the mother by carrying the unborn child to term or through the act of childbirth. In such a circumstance, the baby is considered ‘a rodef’, a pursuer after the mother

with the intent to kill her. Nevertheless, as explained in the Mishna (Oholos 7:6), if it would be possible to save the mother by any other means, including amputation of a limb, abortion would be absolutely forbidden.

Reverend Paul Chaim Benedicta Schenck

God Commands: “Do Not Sacrifice Your Offspring!”

“You shall not give any of your offspring to sacrifice them

to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 18:21 NRSV