by Mitsui Collective is devastated by today’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade.
As an organization focused on embodied liberatory practice, we are committed to the rights of *all* to maintain dignity, self-sovereignty, and power over their own bodies. Today’s decision is rooted in the intersecting ideologies of patriarchy, white supremacy, racism, and Christian nationalism which seek to limit power to a select minority at the purposeful expense, exploitation, and dehumanization of others in both body and soul. In our bodies, in our values, and in our freedom, today’s decision is an affront to our civil rights as individuals and our religious liberties as an organization grounded in Jewish tradition and practice.
Reproductive Justice — including the right to safe and accessible abortion — is fundamental for the individual ability to lead a free and self-determined life, and for our collective ability to build communities based around equity, justice, and the pursuit of embodied healing and wholeness.
Mitsui Collective remains committed to our ongoing work of anti-oppressive spiritual practice, rooted in embodied Jewish wisdom and learning, for the purposes of enacting collective care and support for all. We are proud to be in solidarity with the individuals and organizations, both within and in partnership with the Jewish community, who are working tirelessly to respond to and fight today’s decision at all levels of policy and practice.
Additionally, we are grateful for language from our partners and colleagues that articulate the critical flaws and impact of today’s decision. Here are a select few, from the growing numbers of statements being issued throughout the Jewish community.
From the National Council of Jewish Women: “This egregious decision is a direct violation of both our American values and our Jewish tradition. Reversing the protections of Roe defies logic, morality, compassion and the fundamental right of all Americans to practice their religious beliefs without interference from the government.
“In the 13 states where abortion will become immediately illegal, millions of people will have to face the harsh truth that they no longer have control over their lives and their bodies. This decision will forever alter the lives of those who will be forced to remain pregnant, increasing the chances that they will face life-threatening medical complications, poverty and unemployment. And we know from existing data in states where abortion is already virtually inaccessible that this decision will disproportionately impact those who already face barriers to accessing health care, including women, and particularly Black, Indigenous and people of Color, LGBTQ+ individuals, those with disabilities, young people and those working to make ends meet.”
From Yolanda Savage-Narva, Assistant Vice President of Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Union for Reform Judaism: “This decision, which is rooted in anti-Black racism, white supremacy, and other systems of oppression, will have disastrous consequences. It disproportionately impacts those already facing discriminatory obstacles to health care and other human rights including Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, people with disabilities, people in rural areas, undocumented people, and low-income people—people in our Reform Jewish community and outside the Movement. For many, this reality is not new, and many have been navigating abysmal abortion access in states that have eroded this right for decades, even with Roe. We must come together to take sustained action to support those whose human dignity and fundamental rights are and will be violated and stripped away. As Jews, we are commanded to do so.”
From T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights: “Pregnant people will now be forced into giving birth or in some cases will lose their lives, due to the financial, legal, health, and personal limitations imposed by this decision. We will see people arrested and imprisoned for seeking essential health care, and we can expect a rise in the horrifying specter of those who have suffered miscarriages and stillbirths being criminally charged as well.
“T’ruah, along with our partners in the reproductive health and justice spaces, will remain steadfast in supporting the right of people to make their own decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures. We call on the Biden administration to take action where the Senate failed and to ensure equal access to abortion nationwide. This is a necessary step forward for racial justice, for abortion justice, and for religious freedom for all.”
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