Ending Pregnancy

Deciding to end a pregnancy is difficult. Regardless of the circumstances, it is a complex loss—one that needs to be acknowledged. Ritual can help us cope with—and make sense of—our emotional response to this arduous experience.

 

Latest Rituals

Bringing a sense of kedushah to the abortion operating table

holding hands hospital bed

A ceremony that a woman who has had an abortion can perform with a group of women. This ceremony uses the symbols of tashlich (casting out) and mikveh; the woman mourns the loss, renews herself, and attempts to bring closure to the abortion.

bowl of water with flowers floating in it

A ceremony that a pregnant woman or couple can perform with a close group of friends or family after the decision to have a therapeutic abortion has been made

torn pink paper heart on a string

A new psalm for a woman terminating her pregnancy

dark bedroom with dawn through window

Prayer to be recited when pregnancy must be ended therapeutically

hands holding apple blossom

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

Presence and Absence: Images of the Divine in Kabbalah

In this study of the Zohar, Rabbi Margie Jacobs will guide you in exploring the Shekhinah, the feminine, immanent, indwelling Sacred Presence, through the use of art materials and reflective writing. Four sessions starting May 7, 2024. 

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network