Dear Lab/Shul,

It’s hard to believe that just under two years ago, Naomi stood with hundreds of folks in front of the Capitol, singing songs of protest to reiterate that reproductive rights are human rights. 

We know that the Jewish tradition does not consider abortion illegal. The book of Exodus states that if a pregnant woman gets pushed as a result of two men fighting and subsequently miscarries, the penalty is one of monetary fines and not murder charges against them (21: 22-24). As this topic is still at the forefront of public attention, it’s hard not to fall into despair when we look at the big picture of policy-makers winning battles over reproductive rights. And yet, we need to dig within ourselves to find strength to keep showing up. Elections in a post-Roe world that center abortion politics have a strong track record of electing candidates who support reproductive freedom.

Shortly after that rally on June 24, 2022, the Dobbs decision came down from the US Supreme Court, effectively dismantling protections for abortion. In the immediate days, weeks and months following, state after state made abortion illegal to perform and receive. Thinking back on that time, it was one of urgency, fear and hope. And with our devastating new reality, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) reports that “40 million people of reproductive age are now trapped in states hostile to abortion access. Those harmed by abortion bans are overwhelmingly BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities, people struggling to make ends meet; people living in rural areas; immigrants, disabled people, youth and trans and nonbinary people.”

Still…There is hope: Aleinu – It’s on us. To gather, to support one another in cultivating resilience so that we can ensure access to reproductive care for ourselves and every person who needs it – at the polls, in the streets, with our wallets, and more.

Gather with us: Sabbath Queen this Friday night will be rich with song and featuring jazz flutist Elsa Nilsson. Come to sing, to listen, or to just be in some high vibe sanctuary space. Especially potent, this Shabbat we lift up the need for reproductive justice, in participation with NCJW’s National Repro Shabbat. 

Our communal feast will look a bit different this month:

This Friday, our community feast will be catered by neighborhood favorite, Manousheh. Get excited for a bounty of Lebanese salads, mezze and flatbread (vegan & GG available). We invite you to BYOB! Special wine pairing suggestions from Liz Alpern, co-founder of Geilteria and dear friend of Lab/Shul, include:

  • Natural wine with a little bit of that fermented fizz
  • Light-bodied pinot noir

We leave you with a prayer to bring with you this Shabbat:
May those who seek abortions do so under the canopy of safety. May they heal emotionally, and have peaceful lives. Guard our going out and our safe return home, may we have peace in our lives.

Listen: Inspired by this message, we encourage you to listen, meditate and activate from this song Safe Return (U’shmor Tzeiteinu) written and performed by Naomi Less.

With hope & love,
Naomi Less | Co-Founder, Associate Director, Ritual Leader and Raising the Bar Director of Ritual
and
Sam Hipschman | Director of Community Organizing and Engagement