Religious Misconceptions: American Jews and the Politics of Abortion
Part of the series JTS Alumni in the World: Scholarship and Impact
With Dr. Rachel Kranson (Kekst Graduate School ’00), Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Director of Jewish Studies, University of Pittsburgh
We begin by tracing the history of how American Jews contributed to reproductive politics by developing first amendment-based arguments for abortion rights. We also discuss the ways in which reproductive politics transformed American Judaism. In particular, we look at the many rituals that Jewish feminist leaders developed to support people undergoing abortion care and galvanize activists working for reproductive rights.
Dr. Rachel Kranson is director of Jewish studies and associate professor of religious studies at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in the history of American Jews and the history of gender and sexuality. Before joining the religious studies faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, she earned a PhD in the joint History/Hebrew and Judaic Studies program at New York University and a master’s degree in Women’s Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Dr. Kranson’s current research project is tentatively entitled “Religious Misconceptions: American Jews and the Politics of Abortion.”
ABOUT THE SERIES
Join esteemed JTS alumni to hear about the important contributions they are making through their work as scholars and thought leaders in their fields. Through their engagement with Jewish text, history, and thought, they are enhancing the spiritual and personal lives of individuals, building more inclusive communities, and preparing the leaders of tomorrow, ensuring a stronger Jewish future.
