‘Why I No Longer Do Abortions’

I am troubled by the misleading opening sentence and the headline of Dr. Flesh’s anguished statement, which imply that he, as an observant Jew, condemns abortion. A careful reading of his piece reveals that Dr. Flesh continues to perform abortions, and to support the legality of abortions-- except second-trimester elective abortions.

In fact, not even the foundational texts of Jewish law absolutely forbid second-trimester abortions. The Mishnah mandates abortion until the actual point of birth when a mother’s life is in danger. Among Jewish legal authorities, there is a range of opinions about what constitutes sufficient cause for ending a pregnancy. As a conscientious Jew, Dr. Flesh has the right to decide whether he places himself with liberal or conservative interpreters of Jewish law. But as a physician serving a secular society, he must be mindful of the crucial boundary between religious norms and secular social policy.

RABBI SUE LEVI ELWELL, Director, Los Angeles Jewish Feminist Center, American Jewish Congress