The Jewish View of Abortion: Insights and Faith, Misconception and Reality

Over the last fifty years or so, Abortion has been debated with an unrivaled legal, spiritual and partisan intensity. Of the many spiritual viewpoints, the traditional Jewish position is one that has been widely mischaracterized. Profound and mysterious questions arise like when does human life begin; what are the rights and obligations of potential parents; and what are ethical and medical circumstances that support the termination of a pregnancy. There are no easy answers. Add questions of faith and personal belief and we can begin to see the difficult task that Rabbi Michael Barclay has taken up in this slim volume. Yet by reaching back to the wisdom of the ancient sages, and other, more modern sources, he can offer some order to the discussion., Not intended to be polemical this is a fairly straight- forward presentation of established Jewish belief with regards to abortion. Further, it may conflict to some degree with other valid religious and spiritual interpretations. But, no matter your view, Rabbi Barclay has given us all the gift of perspective.