Testimony by Rabbi Joseph R. Black in support of House Bill 22-1279, The “Reproductive Health Equity Act.”

 I am here today because this is personal.  My wife and I are carriers of Tay-Sachs – a rare, incurable genetic disorder that primarily affects Jews of Eastern European descent. Tay Sachs babies endure a painful and gruesome death - usually within 5 years of birth.

31 years ago, we were blessed by the birth of a healthy daughter.  Our luck changed with our second pregnancy. Thankfully, at that time, abortion was legal and safe.  As difficult as it was to say goodbye to the hopes and dreams of a second baby, the thought of having to care for and eventually bury a suffering child was unpalatable.  We chose to have an abortion. My wife received excellent care and together we grieved the loss of what might have been.

This bill is designed to ensure that those who are able to become pregnant or terminate a pregnancy will have the right to do so. When government puts itself in a position to legislate how people can care for their bodies, unless that decision impacts the health of the general population, we have crossed a dangerous line of personal autonomy.

In the book of Deuteronomy, we find the following:

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day: I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life, that you and your descendants may live! 

This text is often misunderstood and twisted to deny abortion care. For me – the words, “Choose Life” mean that we have a responsibility to live our lives in ways that honor God’s creation.  They command us to work together to respect individual choices and empathize with the difficulties faced by all. They do not mean imposing our narrow understandings of life’s questions, traumas and values on others – nor do they disavow us from disagreeing on the many complex paradoxes with which we are confronted on a daily basis.

The decision to terminate a pregnancy is very difficult and painful.  And yet, I also feel - passionately - that such a decision should be made by individuals- not elected officials or courts.

We can agree to disagree about the personal choices involved in having an abortion but when these disagreements become the basis for attempts to repress and demonize others, a dangerous line has been crossed. Please support the Reproductive Health Equity Act.

Thank you.