When Allison Tombros Korman quit her job as the most senior employee at the DC Abortion Fund in the face of antisemitism, she was exhausted.
"I could barely get out of bed. The last five weeks had wrung me out," she wrote in an article for
The Tablet
.
In the days after the October 7 attacks, her employer took a public stand against Israel and in support of the people of Gaza. Korman urged her colleagues to keep the organization out of the public discourse on the war in Israel, but the statements on social media continued. Tension mounted in the office as she rejected her peers' political position. Six weeks later, she tendered her resignation.
It turns out she's not the only Jewish person working for women's reproductive rights who faced such antisemitism. "Since October 7, there's been a real schism in our movement," she said. "It feels like there's a litmus test. You can't be someone who cares about reproductive health unless you adhere to specific ways of thinking."
Less than a year later, she launched the Red Tent Fund, an abortion support fund grounded in Jewish values that affirm the right to abortion, and is now focused on helping abortion seekers get the reproductive care they need, regardless of their religion.
"We want to spend our time, energy, and resources focusing on domestic abortion funding and not get distracted by anything outside of that," she said.
The Red Tent Fund is one of about 100 abortion funds nationwide which assist people who seek abortions but can't afford the care.
Korman's fund is paying for abortions at five clinics in four states including two in Illinois--one in Chicago and another near the southern border--as well as ones in Virginia, Maryland, and Kansas.
"Illinois is such a hub of abortion services right now," Korman said, noting that the state is geographically accessible to people coming from places where abortion is less available.
This spring, she expects the Red Tent Fund to open its warm line, allowing patients to call in to ask for financial aid.
"People that we are helping [access] abortion funds are those most marginalized," said Amy Kaufman, a Red Tent Fund founding board member and Chicago area consultant in the social sector. "This is basic health care," said Kaufman, "My Jewish values and the work I do professionally is at that intersection of Tikkun Olam."
Given that the cost of an abortion ranges from $400 to $10,000 depending on location and gestational age, the procedure is financially out of reach for one in three Americans, said Korman. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Red Tent Fund provided $75,000 in abortion procedures. Korman predicts the organization will fund about a half a million dollars in those procedures in 2025.
Nearly two dozen synagogues have signed on as partners.
"We hope there are different layers of engagement, whether you invite someone from the Red Tent Fund to speak or you have a social action committee and want us to engage in that way," said Kaufman.
"We're proud to put our name on the Red Tent Fund website," said Rachel Brook, Senior Cantor at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago.
While supporting the Red Tent Fund is in line with Jewish tradition that prioritizes the life of the mother, Brook also sees Korman as a role model. "She is truly living her values and took a great risk and showed great courage. It can inspire everybody."
Julie Mangurten Weinberg is a Northbrook-based freelance journalist with 25+ years of experience in broadcast, print, and digital media.
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On March 27, Anshe Emet Synagogue will presents "Faith in Action: Jewish Perspectives on Women's Reproductive Healt." Event open to the public, but registration required. To learn more, visit
ansheemet.org
