Does Progressive Judaism have a view on matters like Abortion, Euthenasia and Genetic Engineering?

1. I am a bit confused.  Does Progressive Judaism have a communal view on abortion, euthanasia and genetic engineering? 
2. Rabbi Jonathan responds: The Progressive Jewish approach gives permission for people to believe and act as they think God wants them to - to make EDUCATED choices for themselves.  There is no particular position on these complex matters (or any other non-ethical ones) though we would tend to the liberal end).  So on abortion, many of my colleagues would be entirely permissive - women's right etc.  On this I disagree.  Of course it is a matter of a life, so it becomes 'ethical' - but when is a life a life?  And when is it a viable life?  Tradition says that if the foetus is threatening the life of the mother, it can be killed to save her life (it is considered as a 'rodef' or persuer).  But once it's head has emerged, it is a full human being and cannot then be killed as it has full 'human rights'.  On the other hand, reflecting pragmatic realities of times past, a baby who dies in its first month does not have a full burial as it has not yet proved itself to be 'viable'.  I look elsewhere for guidance: Noting that there is a clear division in the US between Pro-Life and Pro-Choice, I find the Torah's instruction 'Choose Life'  (Deut 30:19) to be useful - it is the mother's choice - but the choice should be for life (whether that means the mother's quality of life or the possibilities for the baby). I see this as a 'middle way of moderation'.  On euthenasia, the tradition is very nuanced.  Traditionalists would claim that only God gives life and only God can take it.  I reject the idea that God takes life. God does not kill us,  Instead I feel God gives us all finite life, and when we die, God is waiting to 'receive us back'.  Even in ancient times there are stories of letting people die when it is time, and not extending their lives unnaturally (eg by making loud noises or putting salt on their tongue).  Today, medical practices have the ability to keep people alive long after they may have had enough and wish to die.  And so I have been supporting the Assisted Dying legislation which has now come into law in Victoria and last month in Western Australia.  On Genetic Engineering, the basic approach would be to develop any medical approach which helps healing and quality of life, as long as it is proven not to be harmful.  In some ways it is a high tech extension of plant and animal husbandry.  Of course it needs rigorous safeguards and I beleiev that these are generally in place in Western research and academia.  China, Russia etc are different questions! 

Working in Shabbat - Building a 'fence' round the Torah

1. On page 248 of A Judaism for the Twenty-First Century (6th Edition), discussion on activities that are prohibited on Shabbat were so interesting how some were devised from 'what if' (ie a guitar may no be played, because what if a string breaks and it needs to be repaired...).  Would you say this 'what if' mindset is a characteristic of a Jew?  
2. Rabbi Jonathan responds: Yes, it is called 'building a fence round the Torah' - so the tradition says chicken is not meat (as it doesn't give milk), but what if you THOUGHT you were eating chicken but it turned out to be veal?! So the Rabbis banned chicken, but did it as a rabbinic ban, not a Torah ban, as they knew it was only a safeguard. 

Is circumcision necessary for Progressive Jews and conversions?

1. Why does Progressive Judaism insist on circumcision, and particularly for adult conversions?
2. Rabbi Jonathan responds: Originally, the leaders of 'Liberale' in Germany felt it was not necessary - what has foreskin got to do with God? But the weight of Jewish tradition insisted, and 'what would teh orthodox say' is a powerful concern about legitimacy, so it was never abolished.  However I would say we do not always insist on it so strictly.  I suspect that in some parts (eg US) it probably goes by the way in some cases, and even in Australia, if someone put a cogent case, I'd be swayed by it (though the decision would be made by the Bet Din - Jewish Court of three people).  Also we will waive it for good medical reasons (and that includes psychological).  Finally, I would argue that if we treat girls and boys the same, and a girl and woman can be a perfectly good Jew without any physical alteration, then why can't a man?  But at the end of the day, we are balancing emotion, feeling, logic and tradition. Circumcision is biblically introduced (starting with Abraham) and described as 'a sign of the Covenant between God and 'man'). It's a tough one! 

Is the Purim Story (Scroll Of Esther) True History?

What makes you so confident that the Purim story of Esther is fictional?  It  seems it would be comparable to so many other extreme stories in the Bible? (This has always been my favourite story!) 

Rabbi Jonathan responds:

There is no evidence that the Jews of Persia were attacked, or that there was a Jewish Queen.  The story was a well-known Persian one, but recast with Esther and Mordechai as the heroes.  These names were not Jewish ones, but are allusions to the main persian Gods, Ishtar and Marduk.  I think the message is that these were great heroes, but NOT GODS.  Only the invisible God is God (and so invisible that it is only alluded to: 'help will come from another quarter' and not even mentioned in the story - one of teh reasons we dress up and disguise our identities).    But though it is not TRUE, there are KEY TRUTHS: In every generation, those will arise who hate and try to kill Jews for no good reason!  This truth makes it quite an adult festival even though everyone thinks it is for kids