NCJW Palm Beach Hosts Repro Shabbat
One of NCJW’s four major priorities is Expanding Abortion Access. To this end, NCJW’s all over the country are encouraged to speak to their rabbis and ask them to have a Shabbat service with a sermon once a year that explains the Jewish perspective of Reproductive Rights and Freedoms. According to Jewish law, life begins when a baby draws its first breath. Not only is a person who is pregnant allowed to have an abortion but is commanded to if it will cause harm of any kind to the pregnant person- physical, emotional, financial, etc.
On Friday night, April 21, 2023, about twenty-some NCJW members and some significant others, gathered at Temple Judea to worship and to attend a Repro Shabbat. Rabbi Yaron Kapitulnik, the senior rabbi, gave credit to NCJW Palm Beach for bringing
Left to right: Rona Sterling, Past President NCJW Palm Beach, Cantor Abbie Strauss, Rabbi Rose, and Dianne Goldin, President NCJW Palm Beach.
the idea to Temple Judea and introduced Rabbi Rose Durbin to give the sermon. Rabbi Rose tackled the subject with poise and with grit. Heads were bobbing in agreement as she spoke about Reproductive Rights. When she finished her sermon, many congregants and guests (men and women) gave her a standing ovation and cheered. I have never witnessed this kind of cheering during a temple service. It was a sight to behold.
In the next few months, there will be many references to Reproductive Rights in our legislatures. NCJW stands strong in our belief that everyone has the right to Safe and Legal Abortion Access.