[BlackVeil]

Do Orthodox Jews base their assessement of abortion on the Book of Deuteronomy? (The section where it the compensation due for causing a miscarriage is less than that of causing the death of person.) There is some such law in Islam - the blood money paid in compensation for an abortion is less than that for a death, and it increases according to how many months advanced the pregnancy is. I think that both traditions would be lenient about a pre-implation method (such as this drug) and totally condemning of late abortions. In Islam there are the arguments drawn from Koranic texts, which are read several ways - but there is also a practical argument - much more sharp. Most Imams state that if an unmarried girl is pregnant she is justified to either flee the family home or have an abortion (both would normally be considered sins.) Because in an Arab society she herself could easily end up a victim of an "honour murder." A tragic dillema for those women. Most clerics aren't very sympathetic, but even they must grudgingly admit that there is a problem, relevant to all discussions on abortion.

[rmlew]

Do Orthodox Jews base their assessement of abortion on the Book of Deuteronomy? (The section where it the compensation due for causing a miscarriage is less than that of causing the death of person.)

That is one basis for holding that ZEF is not the same as a child. I do think that there are other parts of the Bible that do make the opposite case and I will post them later.
I am not an Orthodox Jew and I have not been properly tutored in Jewish law. I have simply taken one class on the subject.

I am aware of the honor killings that occur in some Muslim and even Arab Christian communities and am revolted by the whole idea.