New York State recently passed a new law pertaining to abortion, called the Reproductive Health Act. The bill has a very nice harmless sounding name to it (as they all do) to conceal what it is really about. Among other heinous things, the bill allows for late-term abortion. Basically, it allows one to kill a full-term baby who is about to be born. It allows one to “terminate” a baby that can, for all intents and purposes, live on its own already, it just hasn’t come through the birth canal.
Professional men and women politicians stood and cheered the “important” legislation, which is “critical to protecting the abortion rights of the New Yorkers,” according to the president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health, who I chose not to name.
These people call themselves progressives, pushing a progressive agenda. Yet, they applaud the passing of a bill that permits murdering small, helpless children. Where is the progress in such a bill? How can they justify such immoral behavior? Do they believe the lies and deceit in which the bill is disguised, calling it reproductive health, or women’s health, or pro-choice?
At a time when our society is becoming more immoral by the week, it is important for us to strengthen our morality, and specifically in the area of appreciating life.
The Torah forbids murder of human beings and forbids abortions which are also considered murder of human beings. In halacha there is but one scenario in which it is permitted to perform an abortion: if the pregnancy is putting the mother’s life at risk of death. In such circumstances it is permitted to kill the baby because it has the status of a rodef – one who is attempting to kill another. The only time it is permitted to kill another person is if they are rodef – trying to kill another person (Rambam hilchos Rotzeiach 1:9; hilchos Melachim 9:4; Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 425:2).
That is the reason why we forbid abortions. It is not because a think tank came up with it or any group of people decided it. It is because we believe that Hashem, who sets all of our moral standards, forbad it.
Chazal tell us that when one witnesses a sota – a woman accused of being unfaithful – in her downfall, he should become a nazir. If he saw the sota in her downfall, then he saw what happens to people who behave immorally. Why then does he need to become a nazir and refrain from wine, which could lead one to immoral activity? He should be the last one to require reinforcements after witnessing a sota’s demise.
The answer is that even though one witnessed the consequences of illicit behavior, the knowledge that it has taken place can negatively affect him. Therefore, he must take an oath to become a nazir.
We should be aware that our sensitivity toward this immoral behavior and the rest of the left-wing immoral progressive agenda can be severely affected when such legislation is passed and becomes the new accepted norm.
Over 25 years ago, Rav Avigdor Miller, zt”l, was deeply concerned with the immoral path the Democrats were leading this country down. He said a student of world history knows that when a country becomes completely immoral God ceases to permit its existence. Decades ago, Rav Miller was concerned with the immoral agenda of the Democrats. One can only wonder and worry what he would say today? What would he recommend we do to ensure that our society remains one that is safe for us and our children?
Perhaps there is nothing we can do to slow down New York State from sliding down the immoral progressive path. However, we can strengthen our morality, and also begin to look and plan ahead where our next residence may be.