To Our Fellow New York Voters,
As Jewish clergy, we know that religious freedom includes reproductive freedom. Jewish values compel us to speak out and take action to ensure all people have access to safe, high-quality reproductive health care. Therefore, as Jewish leaders, we support the Prop 1 ballot measure because of our religion — not in spite of it. We urge all New Yorkers to turn your ballots over and vote “YES” on Prop 1 on November 5th.
In Judaism, the life, health, and well-being of the pregnant person takes precedence over that of the fetus. Jewish law not only permits abortion, but even requires it when the life or health of the pregnant person is at risk. In short, abortion bans are against our religion. Prop 1 will protect the right to abortion and access to other reproductive health care, including birth control and IVF, by preventing future state laws banning abortion and prosecuting pregnancy outcomes like miscarriages.
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we have seen abortion restrictions enacted across the country. Twenty-one states currently have abortion bans — impacting more than one in three women of reproductive age. Patients cannot access crucial health care, and the results are devastating. The tragic deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller in Georgia, and the sharp increase in maternal mortality in Texas since the state instituted an abortion ban are heartbreaking examples of how these bans are in direct opposition to the Jewish belief that the mother’s life is paramount.
Judaism calls on us to respect the dignity of all people and to support them as they make decisions about their health and their families. No one’s health care options should be limited by the narrow religious beliefs of others.
Prop 1 is especially significant to the Jewish community regarding its protection of in vitro fertilization or IVF. We know that infertility rates are higher in the Jewish community, affecting 1 in 6 Jewish couples, in comparison to 1 in 8 couples generally.
Without the protection of Roe, we can’t afford to miss our opportunity to add this additional layer of protection for New Yorkers into our state constitution.
Jewish values include freedom, autonomy, respect, and dignity for all. Prop 1 helps us get there. For that reason, we, the undersigned Jewish clergy, urge all New Yorkers to flip their ballots and vote YES on Prop 1 on November 5th to enshrine reproductive rights into our state constitution.
Signed,
Uri Allen Springfield, NJ
Rabbi Renni Altman, Poughkeepsie
Cantor Dana Anesi, White Plains
Rabbi Emily Aronson, New York
Rabbi Guy Austrian, New York
Cantor Kathy Barr, New York City
Cantor Chanin Becker, Tarrytown
Rabbi Shelley Kovar Becker, New York
Rabbi Debra Bennet, Plainview
Rabbi Stacy Bergman, Brooklyn
Sara Birnbaum, Rabbinical Student, Scarsdale
Rena Blumenthal, New Paltz
Rabbi Dana Z. Bogatz, Peekskill
Rabbi Deborah Bravo, Woodbury
Rabbi Alison Brody, New York
Rabbi Caleb Brommer, Ithaca
Rabbi Jeffrey Brown, Scarsdale
Cantor Josh Breitzer, Brooklyn
Rabbi Daniel M. Bronstein PhD., Brooklyn
Rabbi Geoffrey Brown, Previously in Binghamton
Rabbi Melissa Buyer-Witman, New York
Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, Brooklyn
Rabbi Carie Carter, Brooklyn
Rabbi Emily Cohen, New York City
Cantor Gerald Cohen, Scarsdale
Rabbi Glynis Conyer, Suffern
Rabbi Deena Cowans, New York City
Rabbi Michelle Dardashti, Brooklyn
Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson, New York
Rabbi Brian Denker, Brooklyn
Rabbi Billy Dreskin, Greenburgh
Cantor Ellen Dreskin, Ardsley
Rabbi Dr. Andy Dubin, New York
Rabbi Moshe Edelman, Riverdale
Rabbi Juliet Elkind-Cruz, New York
Tehilah Elsenstadt, Rabbinical Student, Brooklyn
Rabbi Joan Glazer Farber, Tarrytown
Rabbi Michael Fessler, Poughkeepsie
Adam Fisher, Port Jefferson Station
Sofia Freudenstein, Rabbinical Student, New York
Rabbi Daniel Geffen, Sag Harbor
Rabbi Bob Gluck, Mount Kisco
Rabbi Dr. Laura Gold, New York
Irwin Goldenberg, Forest Hills
Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg, Queens
Rabbi Linda Portnoy Goldberg, White Plains
Rabbi Lindsay Goldman,. New York
Rabbi Howard Goldsmith, Rye
Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman, Brooklyn
Rabbi Matt Green, Brooklyn
Rabbi Hilly Haber, New York
Rabbi Audrey Halpern, Commack
Rabbi Jill Hausman, New York
Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann, New York
Rabbi Lisa Grant, Brooklyn
Rabbi Rachel Gross-Prinz, Brooklyn
Rabbi Miriam Herscher, New York City
Cantor Sandy Horowitz, New York
Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson, Brooklyn
Cantor Stefano Iacono, New York
Rabbi Lisa Izes, Somers
Rabbi Jennifer Jaech, Croton-on-Hudson
Rabbi Jill Jacobs, New York
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, New York City
Rabbi Marisa James, New York
Rabbi David Kalb, New York
Rabbi Andrue Kahn, Brooklyn
Rabbi Sammy Kanter, New York
Rabbi Beth Klafter, Commack
Rabbi Dena Klein, Rye Brook
Sharon Kleinbaum, Senior Rabbi Emerita, New York
Mr. Noam N. Kogen, New York
Stephanie Kolin, New York City
Rabbi Gabriel Kretzmer-Seed, Bronx
Rabbi Janet B. Liss, Glen Cove
Rabbi Beverly W. Magidson, Albany
Rabbi Nomi Manon, Albany
Rabbi Marc Margolius, New York
Cantor Jenna Mark, White Plains
Rabbi Jose Rolando Matalon, New York
Cantor Jack Mendelson, White Plains
Cantor David Mintz, New York
Rabbi Joel Mosbacher, New York City
Rabbi Susie Heneson Moskowitz, Huntington
Rabbi Steven Moskowitz, Oyster Bay
Rabbi Linda Motzkin, Saratoga Springs
Cantor Sarah Myerson, New York
Rabbi Dina Najman, New York
Rabbi Sarah Noyovitz, Boston
Rabbi Dan Ornstein, Albany
Rabbi Shuli Passow, New York
Hazzan Ari Priven, New York
Rabbi Sarah Reines, New York
Rabbi Rachel Rembrandt, Port Washington
Rabbi Max Zev Reynolds, Sunnyside
Stephen Ring, Hampton Bays
Rabbi Mira Rivera, New York
Rabbi Kayley Romick, Westbury
Rabbi Dina Rosenberg, Briarcliff Manor
Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, New York City
Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal, New York
Rabbi Dennis S. Ross, New York City
Rabbi Jade Sank Ross, Port Washington
Rabbi Jill Rubin, New York City
Noa Rubin, New York
Rabbi Sara Sapadin, New York
Rabbi Ilana Schachter, Roslyn
Rabbi Craig Scheff, Orangeburg
Cantor Eric Schulmiller, Port Washington
Rabbi Drorah Setel, Rochester
Rabbi Jaimee Shalhevet, Syosset
Rabbanit Dr. Liz Shayne, Bronx
Linda Shriner-Cahn, New York
Rabbi Mia Simring, New York
Rabbi Dr. Daniel Smokler, New York City
Rabbi Felicia Sol, New York City
Rabbi Rafi Spitzer, Schenectady
Rabbi Abby Stein, Brooklyn
Debra Stein, Cantor/Rabbi, East Hampton
Rabbi Dr. Oren Steinitz, Syracuse
Barry Swan, Madrikh, Rochester
Rabbi Rachel Timoner, Brooklyn
Rav Jericho Vincent, Brooklyn
Rabbi Burt Visotzky, New York
Rabbi Marcey Wagner, Smithtown
Rabbi Jay Weinstein, Woodbury
Rabbi Jamie Weisbach, New York City
Rabbi Daniel Wolpe, Fresh Meadows
Rabbi Barbara Wortman, Rockville Centre
Rabbi Mara Young, Greenburgh
Rabbi Sara Zacharia, New York City
Rabbi Zoe B. Zak, Catskill
Hazzan Bonnie Zakarin, East Rockaway
Rabbi Elizabeth Zeller, Plainview
Rabbi Irwin Zeplowitz, Port Washington