The University of Pittsburgh Hillel Sisterhood co-sponsored and hosted an event with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pittsburgh last week in order to discuss women’s health and sexuality. Reproductive rights, sexually transmitted disease, and the intervention of government in the arena of women’s health were the main topics of discussion.

Complete with fondue, comfortable couches and a pool table, Hillel Jewish University Center on Forbes Avenue provided a casual atmosphere for women to ask questions and discuss topics like abortion, abortion legislation and anything else on their minds.

Senior Shoshana Rosen, an intern at the Greater Pittsburgh’s ACLU chapter, coordinated Wednesday’s event with Hillel Sisterhood’s co-chair Jennifer Kurtzman, who plans the monthly talks. Rosen, who has been active in Hillel for four years, also worked with Brenda Lee Green, vice president for Education of Planned Parenthood and member of the ACLU’s Reproductive Rights Committee.

Green kicked off the event with what she called a “facilitated discussion” on issues regarding reproductive rights, sexual health issues and legislation regarding abortion.

“We’re not talking strictly about abortion but how we battle abortion and how it’s trickled down into other issues regarding women’s health,” she said. “It relates to everything from stem-cell research, access to medication, family planning, access to health care and a number of issues.”

Green stressed that separation of church and state is necessary in these issues because abortion, among other things, is a women’s health issue, not a religious one.

Sophomore Rebecca Lehner said she’s come to a lot of these events and felt Wednesday’s was very informative.

“I think a lot of people when they come to events like these, they’re curious about how Judaism feels about abortion, how Judaism feels about birth control,” Lehner explained.

“We’re always very open-minded on these topics. Judaism is very pro-choice and pro-women’s rights, so I think it’s very nice when a lot of people come to these things to just know that the different positions that Jews hold on issues like this.”