According to statistics, 1 in 2 pregnancies in America are unplanned. Millions of women, from the youngest teens to ladies in their late 40’s, have to face this difficult situation. For unmarried women, the temptation to end their pregnancy can be incredibly strong, particularly if they’re in school, not financially stable, have an unsupportive partner, and/or lack family approval.

The Jewish community, like every other, deals with it, though it’s not often talked about. There is so much fear, guilt, shame, and judgment that many women are afraid to reach out, and those who want to, may not know where to go. An amazing organization called In Shifra’s Arms is a priceless resource.

They’re a non-partisan social service organization, with members from every stream of Judaism—secular, Orthodox, and everything in-between. They provide free, confidential counseling. For those who are currently pregnant and want to keep their babies, they can offer care packages, financial assistance, and local connections—things these moms need and deserve! For those who want to have—or already had—an abortion, they provide emotional and spiritual care. 

I’ve personally known women who went both routes, with various outcomes and various levels of regret. None of them would say it was an easy decision. This topic is so emotional, with no simple answers, and I, like most folks, agonize over it.

While I believe that life begins at conception, viability certainly does not and I do think abortion within the first trimester should be legal. (After that, only in a dire emergency.) The Torah does allow abortion, but it’s never encouraged, just something that is viewed as an unfortunate reality of human existence in this troubled world. 

If a lady feels so incredibly desperate that her only choice is an abortion, I would never, ever judge her, nor should anyone else. Usually it’s fear and isolation that caused her to make that choice. What bothers me is the enormous misinformation campaign that goes on; both the pro-life and pro-choice groups do it equally. Anyone who claims that abortion is a good thing is a lunatic or a total liar. Abortion is the loss of life—for the baby always and quite often, it’s an emotional death for the mother. Women who go through the hellish ordeal of abortion need compassion, never condemnation.

The choice to end or continue an unwanted pregnancy may be the most heartbreaking decision any woman could ever make. Nobody should have to do it alone. Talk it out, with a non-judgmental person, and be sure that you’re informed. And if you made a choice long ago that you regret now, there is hope and healing for that, too. 

In Shifra’s Arms is the best place to start.

Because this topic is so sensitive, anonymous comments are fine, but I am begging everyone to be understanding and sympathetic. Different opinions are ok, but I will trash stuff that is intentionally cruel. 

November 9, 2018 is the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht (aka “Night of the Broken Glass,” which was a Nazi pogram that targeted German Jews.) To commemorate this terrible tragedy, with the hope that history will never again repeat itself in this awful way, a talented playwright is coordinating a worldwide event to raise awareness. 

Phyllis Zimbler Miller—who is a lovely lady I met through Twitter—created The Thin Edge of the Wedge based on firsthand accounts of survivors and saviors who were there and lived to tell the truth. Originally published in the 70’s as a newspaper article, she then turned it into a one-act play.  

Her goal is to have the play performed or read simultaneously around the world, by as many people as possible. (Only 4 actors are needed and no scenery is required, so don’t think this is overly complicated.) This would be a wonderful activity for High School, Hebrew School and College students, in addition to temples and community centers. Holocaust education is sorely needed!

Anyone who’s interested, can contact her via her website and she will send you the script. 

Rabbi Yechezkiel Tenenbaum is holding a very special Torah: it’s the first one ever designated to honor the memory of a Jewish American soldier. Both the Torah itself, and the man who inspired it, have an interesting history. 

The 75-year-old Torah originally resided in a Baltimore temple that has since disbanded. One of its former members, Michael Steininger, purchased it with the hope of dedicating it to his late brother, Martin, who served in Afghanistan and died at the age of 38. 

Fixing the Torah would require considerable skill that came at a high cost. Help was provided by Beis Yisroel Torah Gemach, which repairs and lends Torahs to Chabad emissaries around the the world. (A “Gemach” is a free loan fund that assists Jews, financially and/or materially.)

Steininger was connected with Rabbi Tenenbaum, who is chaplain of the Maryland Defense Force. He provides spiritual guidance to Jewish military members, police officers, and firefighters.

In what can only be described as an amazing coincidence, Rabbi Tenenbaum requested a Torah at the same time that Steininger inquired about giving one. (Talk about a perfect match.)

The Torah that was inspired by Martin Steininger’s memory, and was entrusted to Rabbi Tenenbaum’s care, was used for the first time on Rosh Hashanah. 

Stories like these make me so happy and show how divine intervention actually works. Most miracles, after all, are subtle, and if we don’t pay attention, they’re easily overlooked. Just beautiful! 

I often say that I learn more from this blog than anyone else because my readers are so well informed. A very kind lady named Amie sent me an article today that was so shocking, so offensive, I thought it might’ve been parody, of the anti-Semitic variety. 

Entitled “Queering the Jewish Holidays: How I Celebrate Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur,” the author is a self-described “Jewitch” meaning a Jewish Witch, who promotes ideas that have nothing to do with Judaism and everything to do with the dark side.

“It brings me a lot of joy to see and experience the ways in which Jewish tradition and Pagan tradition overlap and compliment one another,” she strangely claims, then describes an “apple craft” which involves cutting an apple to reveal a pentacle to “acknowledge that apples are magic, just like you and just like me.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but I have never, ever seen a pentacle inside of an apple, nor have I ever considered an apple to be magical. That is just downright odd!

Things get even weirder, as she describes a so-called “New Moon Ritual” that involves Tarot cards—something which is explicitly forbidden in the Torah, along with fortune tellers, oracles, soothsayers, psychics, etc. 

Let’s be clear: If someone is practicing witchcraft, they can not simultaneously practice Judaism. 

Judaism, rightfully so, condemns all forms of witchcraft because it is ungodly, unsafe, and sick. If someone chooses those beliefs, I don’t think they should be persecuted or harmed, not at all, but they are mentally disturbed and need our help and compassion. 

Unfortunately, this is not a single case of one mixed-up girl. There are repulsive necklaces for sale that combine a Star of David with a Pentagram; a terrible website called Jewitch whose members attend creepy “Jewitch Camps” in the woods; and The Forward wrote about others, back in 2003, counting their numbers in the hundreds, describing them in this way:

“Jewitches have a strong sense of Jewish identity but also practice magic, cast spells and tend to identify with “goddess-directed” worship. Their beliefs run the gamut from strict monotheists to those who worship a pantheon of goddesses. 

“There are two main schools of Jewitchery. On one end are “Jewish witches,” Jewish women who practice Wicca or another form of neo-pagan religion, combining their identity and spirituality practice with “Jewishness,” if not actual Judaism. On the other end of the continuum are “witchy Jews,” Jewish women who practice a form of normative Judaism and infuse it with a magical perspective gleaned from the pagan world.”

Whatever these ladies call themselves, they are all, 100% of them, not following Jewish law, which only recognizes one God, and rejects all forms of paganism or Goddess worship. 

Maybe some folks think I’m overacting and it’s not a big deal, but I beg to differ. The occult has attracted troubled souls for centuries and it hurts those who are the most vulnerable, the most in need of God’s love and God’s word. I am totally against anything that separates people from that. We all need God, not false gods.

I’m willing to accept a wide range of philosophies and lifestyles, but not ones that are directly encouraging people to harm themselves; most definitely, it harms spiritually and a lot of times, it also hurts in a physical way. 

For most, witchcraft is only a passing phase, thankfully, but it can do a lot of damage during its height—damage to the individual and damage to society. There is nothing good about witchcraft and anytime we see it, we must condemn it.