ABORTION
Richard Alan Block, "The Right To Do Wrong: Reform Judaism and
Abortion", JRJ 28/2 (l981), 3-15. - The author questions the
presumed absolute nature of Reform Judaism's approval of therapeutic abortion
and identifies several moral considerations that may modify an absolute
acceptance of abortion as a valid position in liberal Jewish interpretation
of traditional attitudes. (S.M.P.)
Sandra B. Lubarsky, "Judaism and the Justification of Abortion
for Non-Medical Reasons", JRJ 31/4 (l984), l-l3. - The author
analyzes extra-halakhic assumptions which she contends undergird the rabbinic
responsa on abortion and attempts to show that these assumptions are not
required by tradition. On this basis it is argued that Judaism permits abortion
for both medical and non-medical reasons. (S.M.P.)
Alvin J. Reines, "Reform Judaism, Bioethics, and Abortion",
Journal of Reform Judaism 37/1 (1990) 43-59. - The author, who maintains
that Reform Judaism is a polydoxy, argues that such a view provides Reform
with principles to resolve fundamental moral issues of bioethics and abortion.
He contends that upon close examination the views of Orthodox Judaism and
Roman Catholicism on, e.g., abortion reflect a diversity which, according
to the author, support the Reform position that each individual possess
ultimate authority to determine for him or herself if abortion is moral.
See also the "Dialogue on Suicide and Abortion", Journal of
Reform Judaism 37/4 (1990), 49-58, published in response to the Reines
essay. (S.M.P.)
Mark Washofsky, "Abortion, Halacha and Reform Judaism" JRJ
28/4 (l981), 11-19, and the "Response" of Richard Alan Block,
ibid., 19-22. - Washofsky asserts that Reform Judaism can call upon
traditional legal sources to support a broadly liberal position on therapeutic
abortion. Block's response asserts that the liberal position which allows
for abortion on demand is not really compatible with traditional legal views.
(S.M.P.)
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