Selected Reform Responsa

abortion under some circumstances(7bid. 52; Shevet Miyehudah, 1, 29).

In summary, we see that some agree with Rabbi Unterman and reluctantly permit abortion to save the mother's life. Others permit abortion when the mother faces a wider array of life-threatening situations, such as potential suicides, insanity, etc. Both of these groups would permit abortion only for serious lifethreatening dangers.

Those authorities who do not consider abortion“akin to murder” are more lenient, but would not permit an abortion lightly either(Solomon Skola, Bet Shelomo, Hoshen Mishpat 132). They would permit it for rape(Yehuda Perlman, Responsa Or Gadol,#31) or to avoid undue pain(Jacob Emden , Sheelat Yavetz,#43), but not in the case of a woman who seeks an abortion after adultery(Yair Hayim Bachrach, Havot Yair,#31). This group also permits abortion when there is serious danger to the mother's mental health(Mordechai Winkler, Levushei Mordekhai, Hoshen Mishpat#39), or when serious fetal impairment has been discovered in the first three months(Eliezer Waldenberg , 7zitz Eliezer, Vol. 9,#327).

We can see from the recent discussion that there is some hesitancy to permit abortion. A number of authorities readily permit it if the mother's life has been endangered, or if there is potentially serious illness, either physical or psychological. Others are permissive in cases of incest or rape. A lesser number permit it when a seriously impaired fetus is known to exist— not for the sake of the fetus, but due to the anguish felt by the mother.

The Reform Movement has had a long history of liberalism on many social and family matters. We feel that the pattern of tradition, until the most recent generation, has demonstrated a liberal approach to abortion and has definitely permitted it in case of any danger to the life of the mother. That danger may be physical or psychological. When this occurs at any time during the pregnancy, we would not hesitate to permit an abortion. This would also include cases of incest and rape if the mother wishes to have an abortion.