Jewish World is reporting that three U.S. Congressmen are now in Israel hoping to support the growth of a pro-Life movement in the Biblical Homeland. During a meeting with Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, Congressmen Chris Smith, Joe Pitts and Frank Wolf expressed concern about the declining birth rate among Israelis.

The three Americans are outspoken champions of preborn children – and lauded the rabbi for his leadership in confronting the practice of abortion in Israel. In a recent pronouncement, the Rabbinic Council of the Chief Rabbinate voted to establish a committee to reduce abortions in Israel. According to the pro-Life group, Erfat, about 50,000 abortions are committed each year in that country.

According to their pronouncement, a majority of these abortions are a “grave sin” because they are not the result of a serious health threat to the mother. They even pointed out that the rate of abortions in Israel may delay the coming of the Messiah, because of an interpretation of rabbinical writings asserting that the Messiah will not come until all souls meant to be born to Jewish mothers are, in fact, born into the world.

During meetings with members of the Israeli Knesset, proposals were discussed to form a joint working group between American and Israeli legislators.

Under current Israeli law, abortions must be approved by a special committee. Abortions are being routinely authorized if the mother is under 17 or over 40; if the conception was the result of rape, incest or extramarital relations; or if the pregnancy might endanger a woman’s physical or mental well-being.