Abortion is an Essential Procedure

During a normal period, abortion is a topic that is nothing if divisive.

But as the corona-virus continues it’s path of destruction across the country and across the world, some anti-abortion politicians and activists took advantage of the lack of a spotlight. In Texas, abortion was labelled as a non-essential medical procedure.

Abortion is an essential procedure. The fact that we are living through a pandemic does not take away a woman’s right to choose. In fact, it is more important than ever that our rights are upheld and not shoved aside due to a crisis.

Shame on those who would take advantage of our current situation to push their agenda. Now is not the time. When we have returned to normal, then we can return to business as usual.

But until then, we cannot allow special interests to use this crisis to their advantage.

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I Would Rather Have a Zoom Seder Than no Seder at All

It is without a doubt that the corona-virus has changed everything about the way we live our lives.

That includes religious practice.

Wednesday and Thursday were the first and second nights of Passover, respectively. For many Jews, a normal Passover Seder consists of a large group of family and friends coming together to eat, drink and tell the story of Passover. But, with the influence of corona-virus, the traditional Seder had to be amended.

Enter Zoom.

My family, many others, used Zoom to digitally get together with our loved ones.

I think the best perspective on this new way of conducting Seders can be best summed up by a statement my father made Wednesday night. He said that his father, my late grandfather (who died 30 years ago), would not at all have approved.

My grandfather (Z”l) was in a certain sense, a man of tradition. He believed in and lived by the Judaism that he loved. That love of Judaism and our traditions were passed to his children and later, his grandchildren. It is one of the reasons that I am still a Jew in every sense of the word and proud of my faith.

While my grandfather would not have approved of Wednesday and Thursday nights, I know that it was the right thing. Not being in the same room with our family and friends was weird. But if I had a choice of holding a Zoom Seder or having none at all, I would choose a Zoom Seder.