Chapter 1 - Preparing For Children: Life Questions

A: Background

11. Pro-active Limits? On Birth Control and Abortion

This brings us to the question of birth control. How does the Jewish tradition view birth control? It might be assumed that a culture that sees the bearing of children as so central would be rigidly opposed to birth control, but the truth is a little more complex. In strict Halachic terms the tradition understands that the commandment to have children was incumbent on the man rather than the woman. This idea is incidentally found in precisely the same piece of the Mishnah that was quoted earlier regarding minimum family size. The result of this is that, although the man is forbidden to take active steps to prevent birth through birth control, there is a lot more freedom for the woman.

Certain kinds of birth control by the woman are permitted by most halachic authorities as long as circumstances justify it. The means accepted by those authorities who allow birth control tend to be restricted to the use of diaphragms and anti-spermicidal cream and, even more frequently, the use of the pill. However, these means are allowed, when they are allowed, on an individual basis, if there is perceived to be an objective justification. This mean that in traditional, Halachic circles, the norm is to consult a rabbi in order to obtain permission to use one of the methods of birth control. The factors that rabbis will take into account when assessing the issue vary from individual to individual but in general terms they revolve around the issue of the health - mental or physical - and the well-being - psychological or economic - of the woman and the family as a whole.

Let us briefly deal with the related issue of abortion. The Halachic position on abortion is in fact more complex than the general "pro-life" attitude of Judaism might lead us to believe. There are a number of different strands to the debate and authorities differ in position according to their interpretation of the central texts that are seen to be relevant. However, the general attitude can be summed up by saying that Judaism does allow abortion in very specific cases, but in no way does it subscribe to the liberal western position of abortion on demand. Abortion is allowed in Judaism only when it is felt that there is an objective necessity connected to the mother's health and wellbeing. Most authorities will interpret these criteria in relatively narrow terms, thereby forbidding all but a small number of terminations of pregnancies. But it is important to understand that the Jewish position is really remarkably flexible given the view of birth as a sacred act. This becomes clear when Jewish practice is compared with the attitudes prevalent in other religious traditions.