ABORTION IN HALAKHIC LITERATURE

the clause in the Hippocratic Oath in which the physician declares, ". . . non wil I give to a woman a pessary to procure abortion," artificial interruption of pregnancy, both legal and illegal, remains a widespread practice. While Judaism has always sanctioned therapeutic abortion in at least limited circumstances the pertinent halakhic discussions are permeated with a spirit of humility reflecting an attitude of awe and reverence before the profound mystery of existence and a deeply rooted reluctance to condone interference with the sanctity of individual human life. In recent years many attempts have been made in the legislative bodies of various states to implement changes in the laws governing the performance of induced abortions. Such proposals are designed to liberalize existing statutes by enlarging the criteria under which legal sanction would be granted for the interruption of pregnancy and destruction of the fetus. The ensuing discussion and the inevitable requests made of individual rabbis and communal spokesmen for an explication of the position of normative Judaism regarding this question has made it imperative that we