On January 23, the eve of the 50th anniversary of the now-overturned Roe v. Wade decision, Hadassah National President Rhoda Smolow and CEO Naomi Adler were joined by Heather Booth, Rep. Tana Senn, Dr. Megan Cohen, Jodi Rudoren and Dr. Michelle Elisburg to discuss the current state of choice in America – from the health care impacts on-the-ground for women, to the policy work being done in states, and the need for coordinated grassroots advocacy and mobilization for change. Jewish women are leading in all of these areas, motivated by their faith and their commitment to healing the world.
Heather Booth, renowned activist and founder of JANE, a pre-Roe v. Wade underground reproductive choice service, opened the panel with a look back on her past advocacy and inspiring words for Hadassah members in attendance. “Now it’s 50 years since the Roe v. Wade decision, and we see enormous push back on the most intimate decision of our lives. But as Hadassah knows, the work you do shows that when we organize, we have changed this world. When we organize together, we will change this world with love at the center.”
Heather discussed how a visit to Israel inspired her to take action to heal the world and spurred her work in the civil rights movement, her work pioneering reproductive choice access in 1965 Chicago, and her work now as a political strategist who has been at the center of several world changing campaigns.
Jodi Rudoren, Editor of the Forward, led a panel discussion on the different perspectives of the reproductive rights movement each panelist represented, sharing her own personal experiences with reproductive choice and guiding discussion on the influence Jewish values have on each panelist’s advocacy for choice. “I was pregnant with triplets and reduced to twins. The statistics that were presented for my pregnancy were so stark that it was very clear that there was a rationale for the reduction that I did.”
Co-president of the National Association of Jewish Legislators, Former Director of American Affairs at Hadassah and Washington State Representative Tana Senn, whose extensive policy work ensured reproductive choice is protected in Washington, offered vital insight into the different legislative arguments for reproductive choice. “Some states really focus on privacy, some focus on women’s health and some focus on other components, whether it’s religious liberty or other things. Religious liberty is one of these issues that is bipartisan. We need to make sure that we have policies that reflect religious liberty,” she said.
Planned Parenthood Southeast’s Medical Director, Dr. Megan Cohen, who has over 8 years of experience in reproductive health care service, provision, capacity building and advocacy, shared how her Jewish identity influences her work, and how restrictions on choice have additionally impacted women’s reproductive health.
“I have people traveling to [Georgia] even though we can only see people up until about six weeks of pregnancy. But some women who can’t get off childcare, who can’t get off work are going to have a much harder time traveling, even with all the networks we have in place,” said Dr. Cohen. “I feel compelled from all my Jewish values to be able to provide this care.”
To round out the panel, Dr. Michelle Elisburg, Hadassah Louisville President, member of the Physician’s Council and pediatrician who, with her chapter, worked to successfully defeat a ballot measure in Kentucky that would have eliminated state protections for choice, noted that her professional and personal values motivate her advocacy. “As there were conversations happening about the health impact of reproductive health restrictions and different religious perspectives, I knew Jewish and Hadassah voices must be heard.”
Naomi Adler closed the event by highlighting the tireless work everyone – from Hadassah’s Education and Advocacy team to members nationwide – continues to do on the ground to support reproductive freedom, with a powerful call to continue Hadassah’s vital work for choice. “Together, we will continue the fight for reproductive choice and help ensure women nationwide are able to make reproductive decisions based on their own values.”
This powerful discussion centered on actions we can take right now to protect reproductive freedom. In Heather’s words, “Now, not just because of what we did, but all over because of what Hadassah did, there is a flowering of Jewish social justice. It is precious, but it needs to be attended to and engaged, and that’s what you continue tonight.”
The fight to protect reproductive choice in a post-Roe America is more critical than ever. Nationwide, Hadassah is taking action to ensure reproductive choice is protected on the local, state and federal level.
Join Hadassah and urge your elected officials to support federal protections for reproductive choice here.
Watch the full “State of Choice: Taking Action in a Post-Roe America” here.
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