A closer look at the challenges and obstacles facing women and their families after the Supreme Court decision overruling Roe v. Wade. We will examine the abortion pill and other strategies including litigation push back in some states. Our program features an in depth live interview with Rabbi Barry Silver of Dor v Dor synagogue in Southern Florida. Rabbi Silver, an accomplished civil rights lawyer, has filed a state court legal challenge to Florida’s restrictive abortion statute. The lawsuit alleges that Florida’s own constitution provides a state constitutional right to abortion.
What is remarkable in Rabbi Barry’s law suit is the claim of First Amendment religious freedom to fully pursue abortion as a religious practice, which is first found in the Babylonian Talmud and expanded in the medieval codes. This issue is of great interest to Jewish women and their families as well as other religious faiths which have similar religious beliefs. Religious belief and practice may be a powerful tool to deal with the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on abortion. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was an eloquent spokesperson for this principle. Please join us to explore how this might be used in the future.
“The destiny of the woman must be shaped to a large extent on her own conception of her spiritual imperatives and her place in society.” Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Casey v. Planned Parenthood.Our program will have time for discussion among the attendees and our speakers.
Speakers
Barry Silver
Rabbi Barry has served Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor since 1996, emulating his father, Rabbi Sam Silver’s devotion to interfaith harmony, rational Judaism and social action. Barry performs Jewish and interfaith weddings, life cycle events, lectures, debates, discusses current events, is an op-ed writer for the Jewish Journal and is a motivational speaker. Barry is the founder of Cosmic Judaism, which merges Judaism and science and is a “Rockin’ Robe” rabbi, offering inspiring and fun Jewish adaptations of rock music. conducts spiritual Shabbat celebrations on Friday nights serving Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor, where Judaism is treasured, reason is cherished, interfaith harmony flourishes, science is honored and outreach is extended to all.
Attorney
Barry practices civil, constitutional and abortion rights, public interest, environmental, and personal injury law. Barry was named Feminist of the Year by Broward NOW after winning a landmark case in defense of abortion rights, was honored by the Black Police Officers of America for advocacy of civil rights and has received many other awards.
Barry successfully defended a former marine’s right to fly the flag at his home, helped Native Americans save a sacred site from bulldozers in Miami, successfully sued a phony psychic and the City of Delray Beach for conspiracy to defraud, protected citrus trees from the State’s eradication program, sues the police for wantonly shooting dogs, helped keep Scripps off of Mecca Farms to save agricultural lands, blocked anti-abortion legislation from taking effect and has handled many other public interest cases. Former Florida Legislator Barry served from 1996 to 1998 in the Florida House of Representatives where he was named “Most Effective Environmental Legislator” by the Sierra Club and “Consumer Champion” by Florida’s largest consumer group. Since 1990, Barry has been included in Who’s Who of American Law for significant contributions to the betterment of society.
Community Activist Barry founded the Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition and Interfaith Justice League and has organized many interfaith rallies, demonstrations and legal efforts on behalf of the environment, civil rights, animal rights, Israel, Native Americans, the homeless and was a local leader of the anti-Trump resistance. National Appearances Barry has appeared on MSNBC, FOX News, Hannity & Colmes, CNN, 48 Hours, the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, and other national and local media. Singer/Songwriter Barry sings original adaptations about politics, social issues, current events and Judaism. Family Barry is married to Francine and has two activist children, Ari and Brandon.
Hap Ponedel
Originally from west Los Angeles, Henry M. Ponedel holds a BA in Biology and Zoology from Humboldt State University (1978). He worked as a licensed plumbing contractor in California and Oregon for 35 years, continuing to serve as bal koreh and lay prayer leader at Temple Beth Israel in Eugene, Oregon, Temple Har Zion in Mt. Holly, New Jersey and at the Aquarian Minyan in Berkeley, California. Former member of the Board of Trustees of Temple Beth Israel, and Talmud Torah tutor for fifteen years, Henry “Hap” has authored a website: http://easteurotopo.org/, An Atlas of the Shtetl, that features over 3000 historical maps of central and eastern Europe and numerous articles, historical references, and external links to the history of Jewish life in eastern Europe. He is married to Hazzan Dr. Evlyn Gould, and they have two children, Ben and Jesse.
Robert Jaffe
Robert (Bob) Jaffe has been a practicing attorney in California and the Federal courts since 1969. A graduate of Hastings School of Law by way of UC Berkeley, Bob’s career has ranged from defending Vietnam draft resisters in Federal Courts to bankruptcy law, civil litigation and personal injury. He was honored to be of counsel in Hedges V. Obama, a case challenging martial law for US citizens in 2012. Bob currently practices wills, trusts, and personal injury at his home office in the Bay Area. He has served the Aquarian Minyan in many capacities over the last two decades as is one of the stalwart Torah teachers both at his Beit Ya’akov setting and in the Renewed Virtual Aquarian Minyan