How Jewish leaders in the US are fighting abortion bans on religious grounds

In June 2022, the precedent established by the landmark US Supreme Court case Roe v Wade (1973) was overturned, leaving the legal status of abortion to be decided on a state-by-state basis. In the decision’s wake, many state legislatures controlled by conservative Christian majorities quickly moved to place strict restrictions on abortion access, with their arguments frequently centred on their religious faith and freedom. However, as Under G-d documents, the decision hardly represented a triumph for all believers – or even all Christians. The US director Paula Eiselt’s film chronicles ongoing legal challenges to these new restrictions brought by interfaith coalitions led by Jewish leaders, who argue that abortion access is central to their faith and religious freedom under US law. Through her moving portrait, Eiselt captures both the moral and legal complexities that have arisen in the wake of the momentous decision.