No truly spiritual religion approves of abortion.
Israel’s Chief Jewish Council Affirms Abortions “Grave Sin,” Delaying Messiah
Jerusalem, Israel (LifeNews.com) -- The chief rabbinic council in Israel released a new opinion about abortion over the weekend confirming that abortions constitute a “grave sin” and saying they are delaying the coming of the Messiah. Their determination provides hope to pro-life Jews in the United States and elsewhere who battle abortion.
"The vast majority of abortions are unnecessary and strictly forbidden according to halacha because they are carried out even when the pregnancies do not endanger the mother's health," the rabbis wrote.
They said those kinds of abortions for socioeconomic reasons or the mother not wanting the baby at the time are delaying the coming of the Messiah, who Jews believe was not represented by Jesus Christ.
Jews typically believe that the Messiah will not come until all of the children who could be born to Jewish mothers are born.
Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger -- two leading Jewish figures in the nation -- both supported the council’s decision.
The Rabbinic Council of Chief Rabbinate also said it would establish a new committee that would examine methods of reducing abortions in Israel.
According to a Ynet News report, the council made its decision after a presentation by Dr. Eli Schussheim, the head of the pro-life group Efrat. He presented the council rabbis with the latest information on abortions in Israel.
His showed them that 50,000 abortions happen there every year and about 20,000 of them are done within the confines of current law.
Ynet reported that the rabbis based their position on the Old Testament verse Genesis 9:6, which says those who shed blood will have their blood shed and saying God made mankind in His image.
Although sacred Jewish texts and traditions oppose abortion, most American Jewish groups have long supported the practice and pro-abortion lawmakers.
Comments