Israel’s two chief rabbis issued a statement on Tuesday, proclaiming that terminating a pregnancy is prohibited by the Torah. They added that there are rare exceptions that could be granted rabbinic approval if the mother’s life is in danger.

Israel’s chief Sephardic Rabbi, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, and his Ashkenazi counterpart, Rabbi David Lau, signed a letter that was published on Tuesday stating that in most instances abortion is a prohibition according to Jewish Law.

The letter’s timely fashion corresponds to the section of the Torah that Jews read this week – Shemot (Exodus 1:1–6:1). This section of the Bible recalls midwives in Egypt – Shifra and Puah, who heroically resisted Pharao’s decree to kill newborn Israelite boys.

The midwives, fearing Hashem, did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.(Exodus 1:17)

The two top rabbis are calling on rabbis worldwide to speak up about the issue of abortion this Shabat while supporting the Efrat CRIB organization. The Efrat organization boasts over 3,000 women who were talked out of getting an abortion and are now advising expecting women facing the same dilemma.

The Israeli pro-life group advertises its mission as an organization continuing the holy mission of the midwives of Egypt.

Israel365 reported that Dr. Eliyahu Schussheim, a doctor who founded the Efrat CRIB organization in 1977 passed away in June.

Schussheim realized that the main reason for abortions in Israel was due to financial insecurity. And so, Schussheim’s organization would provide expecting mothers with all the necessities one may need for a baby such as cribs, diapers, and formula.