Let My People Know: Why Judaism Is Neither Pro-Life Nor Pro-Choice

Welcome to a transformative journey into one of the most debated moral questions of our time — through the lens of timeless Torah wisdom. In an era where the abortion debate has become one of the most polarizing, emotionally charged, and politically weaponized issues in modern society, Judaism offers something extraordinary: a clear, compassionate, and divinely grounded framework that transcends political slogans. This video is not about politics. It is not about choosing a side in a culture war. It is about what God — through Torah, Talmud, and centuries of rabbinic scholarship — actually teaches about the sanctity of life, the tragedy of abortion, and the rare circumstances under which it may be permitted. Whether you are Jewish or not, deeply observant or newly curious, you will find in this discussion a moral clarity that our culture desperately needs. Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, one of the most trusted voices in authentic Torah education, walks us through Maimonides’ landmark ruling, the powerful concept of Rodef (the pursuer), the distinction between rights and obligations, and why Judaism’s answer to the abortion debate is: neither.

Filmed in the 1990’s on TV - Let My People Know.

📚 In this essential Torah teaching, you will discover:

• Why Judaism views abortion as a tragedy — even when permitted
• The Maimonides ruling on the fetus as a “Rodef” (pursuer) — and what it really means
• The biblical vs. rabbinical debate on abortion’s legal status in Jewish law
• Why Judaism says: “I don’t have rights — I have obligations”
• The majority and minority Halachic opinions on permitted circumstances
• Why Rabbi Greenberg refuses to join political pro-life OR pro-choice movements
• How education — not legislation — is the Torah approach to reducing abortion
• What the Noahide Laws say about society’s moral responsibility

This discussion is part of Rabbi Greenberg’s landmark series on Jewish ethics and law, produced through the Jewish Discovery Center. In this episode, Rabbi Greenberg and co-host Ellen Bernstein explore the full depth of Halachic reasoning on abortion — covering Maimonides, Talmudic sources, divergent rabbinic opinions, the rights-vs.-obligations framework, and the Rabbi’s personal call for civil, educated, non-politicized discourse on this sacred topic. If you’ve ever wondered where Judaism truly stands — not Reform, not Conservative, but authentic Torah Judaism — this is the video you’ve been waiting for.

📖 Primary Sources:

• Talmud Bavli — Sanhedrin 72a (Rodef principle)
• Maimonides, Mishneh Torah — Laws of Murder (Hilchot Rotzeach u’Shmirat Nefesh)
• Noahide Laws — Genesis 9 and Sinai reiteration
• Shulchan Aruch — Choshen Mishpat (relevant sections on life preservation)