One year ago, Hadassah National President Rhoda Smolow and Hadassah CEO Naomi Adler released the following statement in response to the United States Supreme Court's recent decision to pause restrictions on Mifepristone from taking effect:
"We are glad to see the Supreme Court's decision that ensures Mifepristone remains accessible and available right now. Mifepristone has been safely used for over 20 years by millions of people in the US and across the world. Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, reaffirms its unwavering support for full and complete access to reproductive health services and care. Hadassah will continue to fight for federal and state actions that expand access to all reproductive health care and affirm reproductive freedom."
Now, just twenty months after the Supreme Court ruled to return abortion policy to the states, the issue came before the justices again on Tuesday. March 26th, when they began weighing a case that threatens to curtail access to a commonly used drug taken in a medication abortion.
The dispute involves a series of actions that the Food and Drug Administration took beginning in 2016 that made the pill, mifepristone, easier to obtain. A group of medical associations that oppose abortion rights have argued the agency acted unlawfully when it relaxed the rules surrounding mifepristone's use.
The justices will first have to consider a procedural issue — whether the doctors and their associations have legal standing to challenge the FDA's efforts in federal court — before deciding whether the FDA's changes complied with the law.
Hanging in the balance is the availability of the pill nationwide. States that restrict abortion access and those that protect it would all be impacted by a decision that rolls back the FDA's recent moves.
Mifepristone not only is used to induce abortion in early pregnancy, but is used to “complete” a naturally occurring miscarriage, thus preventing possible hemorrhage. Many emergency department care providers will not treat these women until she is close to death.
We must continue to speak out for control of our bodies, for us, for our mothers, and for our daughters.
Reproductive Health News
States have constructed a web of abortion laws and regulations that restrict or support whether, when and under what circumstances providers can offer abortion care and a pregnant individual can obtain an abortion. While a state’s abortion policies affect all people seeking care, they are particularly significant for individuals who find it difficult or outright impossible to access care when forced to navigate around abortion bans and restrictions. This includes people already facing barriers due to factors like their race, income, age or gender identity.
Hadassah Charlotte Metro has members from both North and South Carolina. Here are the facts on abortion access in those states:
Abortion Policies in North Carolina-VERY RESTRICTIVE
Abortion policies currently in effect in North Carolina include the following:
• Abortion is banned at 12 weeks and later
• Patients forced to make two trips—one for in-person counseling and another at least 72 hours later for the abortion
• State Medicaid coverage of abortion care is banned except in very limited circumstances
• Medication abortion must be provided in person because state bans the use of tele-health or requires in-person visit
• Parental consent is required for a minor's abortion
• Only physicians can provide abortions and not other qualified health care professionals
• Unnecessary regulations are in force and designed to shutter abortion clinics without basis in medical standards
• State provides protections from harassment and physical harm for anyone entering an abortion clinic
• State has a shield law to protect abortion providers from investigations by other states; may cover patients and support organizations
Abortion Policies in South Carolina-MOST RESTRICTIVE
Abortion policies currently in effect in South Carolina include the following:
• Abortion is banned at 6 weeks and later
• Patients forced to wait 24 hours after counseling (not required to be in-person) to obtain an abortion
• State Medicaid coverage of abortion care is banned except in very limited circumstances
• Medication abortion must be provided in person because state bans the use of tele-health or requires in-person visit
• Parental consent is required for a minor's abortion
• Only physicians can provide abortions and not other qualified health care professionals
• Unnecessary regulations are in force and designed to shutter abortion clinics without basis in medical standards
Matzah of Healing-Refuah ( A supplement to your Passover Haggadah)
The first and second nights of Passover fall on April 22 and April 23, 2024. At a traditional seder, three pieces of matzah are used to represent the three groups of Jews: Cohanim (high priests), Levi’im (those who assist the Cohanim) and Yisraelim (all the others). This year, we ask that you add a fourth matzah to represent a “matzah of healing” and read the paragraphs included below.
Hold up the fourth matzah as you read:
This is the matzah of healing.
As we begin our seder, we take pride in the growing achdut (unity) about the importance of Israel today. The expression “all of Israel is responsible for one another” is truer today than ever before. The war has brought Jews from around the world together in their support and love of Israel.
Tonight we add this fourth matzah to our table to represent the matzah of healing (refuah). This is the matzah that exemplifies our hopes for a healthy future for the Jewish nation. We recognize the need for all of us to end the silence so often felt in trying times such as these. We hope that with support from others, those that need it will have the opportunity and time to heal. Just as we have shared in the sadness and trauma of October 7, we look forward to a better future. We hope this matzah will bring us healing, strength, comfort and renewal.
May the seder tables of our people be filled with reunited families and may those who are not with us be remembered with love. We pray that all those wounded by the war will achieve a refuah shleimah (a complete recovery) through treatment, time, love and the observance of our ancient traditions.
Let our matzah of refuah bring healing, joy, hope, comfort and renewal to all those celebrating Pesach around the world. And may we continue to go from strength to strength.
Am Yisrael Chai!
(Upon completion of the reading, add the matzah to the other three that you’ve set aside.)
