Does a Fetus Have Rights?

If you aren’t Pro-Life are you pro-death? If you aren’t Pro-Choice are you for no choice? What makes us a person and when do we become one? The National Jewish Retreat featured Rabbi Berel Bell delving into these questions. He is a Judge on the Montreal Beis Din as well as extremely knowledgeable about secular and medical ethics. Rabbi Bell presents examples from civil courts; the mother is not injured in a car accident, but her unborn baby is: a mother kills her unborn baby with a BB gun; and other gruesome cases. The Torah answer to the question of whether a fetus has rights is a resounding “it depends”. The answer lies in when the soul enters the physical body. As the fetus develops, the soul gradually moves in until birth when the soul and the body are completed and joined. The rights of the fetus depend on the situation with the mother and baby. Is the life of the mother at risk? How far along is the pregnancy? There are many factors that a Rav must consider when ruling in these situations. The value that the Torah puts on life is evident in the examples given in the Talmud. The question in these dire situations is whose life is considered more valuable and important in each individual case. Rabbi Bell gives a presentation that is thorough, intriguing, and a pleasure to view. This lecture was delivered at the 7th annual National Jewish Retreat --- Subscribe to our channel for more of the best Jewish video content on YouTube. The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) has the largest collection of Jewish media content. Our exclusive videos range from Torah insights to the most hotly debated contemporary topics. Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myJLI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myjli/ See our full video library here: https://www.torahcafe.com/ Visit our website here: https://www.myjli.com/ ABOUT JLI Serving learning centers in over 1,800 communities and on the internet, the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) is the world's preeminent provider of Jewish learning. The mission of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute is to inspire Jewish learning worldwide and to transform Jewish life and the greater community through Torah study. To make Jewish learning accessible and personally meaningful to every Jew, regardless of background or affiliation. JLI's insightful curriculum utilizes cutting-edge pedagogical techniques, embracing the multiple intelligence model and utilizing multimedia and an array of approaches to engage, educate, and inspire all kinds of minds in a dynamic Jewish learning experience.